“The police are inevitably corrupt.” A quote from Frank Herbert’s novel God Emperor of Dune may apply in the case of a group of police officers in Thailand who allegedly hunt foreigners to extort money. A Chinese-Vanuatu expat who filed a complaint with Thailand’s law enforcement agency said the extortionate agents forced him to give the police officers cryptocurrencies worth at least $165,000.
Thailand: 7 corrupt cops arrested
Thai authorities announced on Wednesday that they have arrested seven suspects involved in… digital currency extortion from Sai.
The arrested police officers were Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanachai, Police Captain Amnuay, Police Sergeant Major Chayaphon, Police Sergeant Major Pornthep, Police Sergeant Major Manaswee and Police Sergeant Major Siam.
According to reports, Sai, a man of Chinese descent and Vanuatu citizenship, was staying in Thailand as an expat with his family when the incident occurred.
Thai authorities also said that three other officers involved in the crime surrendered on October 28, namely: Police Captain Thanakrit, Police Chief Sergeant Major Suphan and Police Sergeant, while two suspects involved in the crime served as interpreters, Mrs. Aphatsara and Mr. Yun, stay free.
The corrupt police gang demanded 300 million baht or 10 million USDT to drop the case. #Thailand #corruptpolice https://t.co/7CR6tMdWfW
— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) November 1, 2024
Unauthorized search
Sai said a group of individuals claiming to be Thai police officers visited their home in Bang Phli Yai, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, and said police showed him what appeared to be a search warrant that would be issued by the Samut Prakan Provincial Police. Court.
Sai admitted that he had not verified the contents of the document because he or any other member of his household could read the Thai language. He added that the only thing that made him think the document was authentic was the government seal, so he let the police search the house.
The suspects used two interpreters to communicate with the family and claimed that a Filipino told them that Sai was involved in a fake passport case filed in the South Bangkok Criminal Court.
Sai said police officers seized their cellphones and a computer while threatening to charge them with illegal employment of foreign domestic workers.
Money extorted
According to Sai’s testimony, the rogue agents offered him to drop the case if he paid 10 million USDT or the equivalent of 300 million Thai baht, saying that he refused their offer because he believed he was innocent and did not have that much Thai . money with him.
Consequently, the police took him and his household to Building B of the Government Complex, where the bandit officers reduced their demand to 10 million baht, which he did not agree to.
Sai said he was taken to the interrogation room where he agreed to their demand of USD 165,000 or THB 5.6 million, adding that he transferred USD 149,253 to the digital wallet of one of the interpreters, Aphatsara, so that his family could be released.
A few days later, Sai said he sent another USDT 20,895 after the corrupt police officers demanded he give THB 700,000 to find out who reported him to the police.
Report the incident to the authorities
Sai decided to hire a lawyer to investigate the incident, which revealed that the criminal charges were fraud. He reported the incident to Bang Sue Police Station, which led to a manhunt for the 12 suspects involved in the extortion.
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