“The police are definitely corrupt.” A quote from Frank Herbert’s novel The Emperor of Divine Dunes may be true in the case of a group of policemen in Thailand who allegedly preyed on foreign nationals to extort money. A Chinese expat from Vanuatu who filed a complaint with Thailand’s law enforcement agency said Cops extortion He forced him to give police officers cryptocurrencies worth at least $165,000.
Thailand: 7 corrupt policemen arrested
Thai authorities announced on Wednesday that they had arrested seven suspects involved in this case Cryptocurrency extortion From Sai.
The arrested police officers were Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanachai, Police Captain Amnoi, Police Senior Sergeant Major Chaifon, Police Senior Sergeant Major Pornthip, Police Senior Sergeant Major Manasoi and Police Senior Sergeant Major Siam.
Reports said that Sai, a man of Chinese origin and Vanuatu citizenship, was residing in Thailand with his family as an expatriate when the incident occurred.
Thai authorities also said that three other policemen involved in the crime surrendered on October 28: Police Captain Thanakrit, Police Senior Sergeant Major Suphan, and Police Sergeant, while two of the suspects who acted as interpreters during the crime, Ms. Avatsara and Mr. Yoon, stay loose.
The corrupt police gang demanded 300 million baht or 10 million US dollars to drop the case. #Thailand #Corrupt police https://t.co/7CR6tMdWfW
– Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) November 1, 2024
Unauthorized search
Sai recounted that a group of individuals who claimed to be Thai police officers visited their home in Bang Phli Yai, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, saying that the police showed him what appeared to be a search warrant allegedly issued by the Samut Prakan District Court.
Sai admitted that he failed to verify the content of the document because he or another member of his family could read Thai. He added that the only thing that made him believe the document was authenticated was the government stamp, and so he allowed the police to search the house.
The suspects used translators to communicate with the family, claiming that a Filipino told them that Sai was involved in a fake passport case filed before the South Bangkok Criminal Court.
Say said the police officers confiscated their mobile phones and computers while threatening to accuse them of illegally hiring foreign housekeepers.
Extortionate money
According to Sai’s testimony, the rogue cops offered him to drop the case if he paid US$10 million, saying he rejected their offer because he believed he was innocent and did not have that much Thai money. The money is with him.
As a result, the police took him and his family to Government Complex Building B where the police reduced their request to 10 million baht, which he did not agree to.
He was brought to the interrogation room where he made their demand for $165,000, or 5.6 million Thai baht, Sai said, adding that he transferred $149,253 to the digital wallet of one of the interpreters, Avatsara, so that his family could be released.
Several days later, Sai said he sent another US$20,895 after corrupt police officers demanded that he give 700,000 baht to find out who had reported him to the cops.
Report the incident to the authorities
Sy decided to hire a lawyer to investigate the incident, which revealed that the criminal charges were fraud. The incident was reported to Bang Su Police Station, which led to a manhunt against the 12 suspects involved in the extortion.
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