His modus operandi was to pick out lonely European tourists, con them of their money, jewellery, passport and identity papers, and eventually kill them, often using poison. Hence the name ‘The Serpent’.
Good-looking and a glib talker to boot, Sobhraj charmed the typical French or English speaking backpacker, befriending and impressing them as a mysterious and wealthy businessman.
His powers of persuasion were so strong that he managed to make many of his girlfriends accomplices in his crimes. Marie LeClerc, a Thai and one of his longtime girlfriends, and Chantal, his wife, were involved in more than a few of his swindles.
Chantal eventually left Sobhraj along with her three daughters, apparently fed up with the criminal life.
Photo: Saab Press
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