Extortionist and bent tourist cop nabbed for running extortion racket among Bangkok bars and clubs

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Interior ministry aide Sutthipong Julacharoen told Thai Rath that he had received information from Ranarong Thipsiri of the Administrative Employee Law Enforcement Operations Center about action earlier yesterday evening with Bang Yai police and local officials in Nonthaburi.

 

A special team had swung into action at Decathlon opposite Central Plaza Westgate in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi. 

 

There after a sting they arrested a tourist policeman named as Sen Sgt Maj Phuwamet Hiranwongworadol and Manas Suksom who had been pretending to be an official of the DOPA (department of provincial administration).

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

100,000 baht used in the sting was found in Manas's car.

 

That Rath had an extraordinary video (click HERE) of a long phone call setting up a sting then a tourist police vehicle and another vehicle being stopped amid cries of "shoot!".

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Ronarong said that Manas and his accomplice (and there may be others involved) were extorting money from bars and clubs all over Bangkok.

 

Manas would pretend to be a DOPA official and charge 5,000 baht as an initial payment then demand 3-4,000 baht in monthly instalments to prevent establishments being shut down. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

But it was just a front. Manas - also known as "Peh" - has a history of impersonating the police. He used his grandmother's phone and her bank account to stash money extorted from the clubs. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Ranarong said that such cases can attract the death penalty. 

 

Investigations continue to track down others who might be involved in the extortion and protection racket. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-08

 

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[worgeordie]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

were extorting money from bars and clubs all over Bangkok.

Looks like they may have been encroaching on other forces

turf , or not kicking the money up.

regards Worgeordie

[kcpattaya]

Obviously, the REAL coppers don't want anyone to mess around in their territory...

[RichardColeman]

Oh, come one, how else is he going to buy a position further up in the force ? 

[GeorgeCross]

incredible that bar owners could fall for such a scam..

 

it's almost like they expect to make such payments ????

 

 

[DezLez]

9 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

it's almost like they expect to make such payments

They do!

I know of bars where the owner would receive a "receipt" he could show to other cops, probably new to the area,  to warn them that his bar was "protected" by that officer!

[sammieuk1]

Impersonating the police is very easy here just hold out your hand whilst tapping your back pocket ????

[steven100]

extortion racket on bars in Bangkok  ......  !!   well  '   who would have ever thought this was going on !!

oh Lordy  Lordy .......   

[webfact]

Thai tourist police officer nabbed for allegedly extorting night spot owners

 

 

A tourist police officer and another man were arrested by Nonthaburi provincial police and local administration officials late Thursday night, after they had allegedly demanded protection money from pubs and bars in the province.

 

A special unit of the Provincial Administration Department and Bang Yai district police were dispatched to the car park of a shopping mall, in Sao Thong Hin sub-district of Bang Yai district, to look for a tourist police vehicle, whose driver is suspected of involvement in an extortion racket.

 

An official of the department said that they learned that the gang, claiming to be from a special task force of the Provincial Administration, had approached several pubs and bars in Nonthaburi province by phone and demanded that they pay them protection fees of 5,000 baht, as the first payment, and a monthly payment of 3,000-4,000 baht, if the pub and bar owners want to operate without being harassed by the police or other officials.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-tourist-police-officer-nabbed-for-allegedly-extorting-night-spot-owners/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-07-08

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

That Rath had an extraordinary video (click HERE) of a long phone call setting up a sting then a tourist police vehicle and another vehicle being stopped amid cries of "shoot!".

"...vehicle being stopped amid cries of "shoot!".

 

Nonsense, they were Thais addressing Thais in Thai, they were shouting "Stop!"

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, DezLez said:

2 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

it's almost like they expect to make such payments

They do!

Whoosh!

[ttrd]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Looks like they may have been encroaching on other forces

turf , or not kicking the money up.

regards Worgeordie

Yeap - Ranarong said that such cases can attract the death penalty ....

[Deli]

4 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

incredible that bar owners could fall for such a scam..

 

it's almost like they expect to make such payments ????

 

 

They do, as it is very common

[mikeymike100]

How many more bent cops are there???

[Jimbo in Thailand]

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...vehicle being stopped amid cries of "shoot!".

 

Nonsense, they were Thais addressing Thais in Thai, they were shouting "Stop!"

From the video it sounds like some were shouting "YEENG" (ยิง), which means shoot in Thai.

[Grusa]

21 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

How many more bent cops are there???

Simple arithmetic. Count the number of cops. Subtract 0. There's your answer.

Edited July 8, 2022 by Grusa

[OldPedro]

Sounds like Chicago in the 1930's

[wombat]

6 minutes ago, OldPedro said:

Sounds like Chicago in the 1930's

I wouldn't be dead for quids.

[NE1]

I'm still waiting for the " it was all a misunderstanding " .

[ThaSalaPaul]

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...vehicle being stopped amid cries of "shoot!".

 

Nonsense, they were Thais addressing Thais in Thai, they were shouting "Stop!"

There were definitely a couple of people shouting "ying" (shoot)

[MrsTnews]

Personally i have seen man dressed in uniform trousers but with civilian shirts taking money from the street hawkers who are only trying to make ends meet. 
 

[keystonecoppers2]

 

                           Covid is not endemic, but cops extorsion is,

                           every day of the year. Can`t change stupid.

[kennw]

7 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

incredible that bar owners could fall for such a scam..

 

it's almost like they expect to make such payments ????

 

 

They HAVE to make the payment or...........

[DezLez]

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

How many more bent cops are there???

To save the brain cells being used for counting very large numbers just count, if you can find any, the number of straight cops.  Much simpler even a 5 YO could do it.

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

7 hours ago, kcpattaya said:

Obviously, the REAL coppers don't want anyone to mess around in their territory...

A Police Officer involved in anything even slightly shady  regarding entertainment premises are NOT in my BOOK Real Police just Uniform Carriers 

[bangon04]

8 hours ago, kcpattaya said:

Obviously, the REAL coppers don't want anyone to mess around in their territory...

"Ranarong said that such cases can attract the death penalty. "

[jesimps]

3 hours ago, Deli said:

They do, as it is very common

Hint:   Sarcasm.

[Aussieroaming]

Situation normal as Thailands finest duke it out over turf wars. 

[happydreamer]

So for murder you walk free in 5 years or flee the country in hiding.... but for extortion you could get the death penalty?  This place...I swear....

[farangroby]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

such cases can attract the death penalty

A harsh sentence is fine, but even capital punishment seems excessive to me