George Clooney impersonator who escaped Italian jail arrested in Thailand

Francesco Galdeli, 58, used name of actor to lure people to invest in bogus clothing company

Italian jail escapee Francesco Galdeli, who used George Clooney's name to con investors, is detained by Thai police officers at a house in Chonburi (AP)

Thai police said they have arrested an Italian man who fled a jail sentence for fraudulently using the name of actor George Clooney to lure people into investing in a bogus clothing company.

Thailand's Crime Suppression Division said in a statement that Francesco Galdeli, 58, was arrested Saturday near the city of Pattaya on suspicion of staying in the country illegally.

Vanja Goffi, 45, was also arrested on suspicion of overstaying her visa.

Interpol notice had been issued for Galdeli and he was arrested at an address provided by Italian authorities, Thai authorities said in the statement.

It was not immediately clear if the two had a lawyer.

Galdeli was sentenced by a court in Milan in 2010 to more than eight years in jail after he was found guilty of impersonating Mr Clooney to trick investors, police said.

Galdeli had lived in Thailand for around seven years.

AP