Nong Khai City Police have denied an allegation that officers asked a 22-year-old conscript accused of burgling an Air Force residence in Bangkok to hand over gold in return for lesser charges. The clarification, issued on 30 August 2026, follows the arrest of Piyapong, 22, from Chanthaburi, and his 22-year-old girlfriend Sukanya, from Ubon Ratchathani, after a burglary at military accommodation in Sai Mai, Bangkok. Burglary suspect makes claim after arrest The burglary was reported to Sai Mai Police Station on 24 August after valuables were taken from an Air Force officer's residence in Khlong Thanon, Sai Mai district. CCTV footage reportedly showed the suspect entering a neighbouring officer's home. Investigators identified Piyapong as an Army conscript stationed at that neighbouring residence. He had allegedly left the area after the offence. Air Force military police searched his room and seized 68 boxed amulets, 11 commemorative coins, seven amulets with cord necklaces, and Buddha images of Luang Pho Sot and Luang Pho Sothon. At about 8pm on 28 August, Piyapong returned with Sukanya. Police said a further 27 items matching the victim's report were found, including cash totalling 89,570 baht, gold and silver jewellery, watches, a Samsung S23 phone, bank documents, gold-shop receipts and bags, diamond jewellery, amulets and other property. The arrest was made at the Kantharat Hall health park. Piyapong allegedly admitted stealing from the residence but claimed that Nong Khai officers at the Nong Song Hong checkpoint took items after stopping him while he was driving a pickup from Nong Khai to Udon Thani on 24 August. He said he had run a red light and admitted that gold found in the vehicle came from the burglary. He alleged that officers took six baht weight and two salung of gold bars, returned three baht weight and two salung, and said this would reduce the case against him. He also alleged that 15 laptops and more than 140 mobile phones, which he said belonged to an officer he worked for and were not burglary evidence, were taken without a seizure record. He was prosecuted for driving while using drugs and fined 3,500 baht by a court, he said. Police say gold was seized for testing Nong Khai City Police said no officer asked for gold or sought a share of seized property. It said officers seized six bars of gold as evidence, kept them for investigation, and took them to a gold shop to establish whether they were genuine. Police cited an official letter dated 29 August 2026 requesting the shop's assistance in examining and certifying the material. Piyapong and Sukanya were handed to Sai Mai investigators for proceedings on allegations of jointly stealing from a dwelling or receiving stolen property. Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath Join the discussion? 31 August 2026
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