Police in southern Thailand accused of extorting 230,000 baht

[snoop1130]

Photo via Facebook/ MGR Online ภาคใต้

 

A Thai man accused officers from La Mae Police Station in the southern province of Chumphon of extorting 230,000 baht from him. He said he was falsely charged during a random road checkpoint inspection.

 

Suwit Khamjean met with his lawyer yesterday to address the issue and took the opportunity to share his story with the media. Urging news outlets to spread awareness, Suwit hopes to catch the attention of the Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) regarding his complaint.

 

Suwit, who owns a garage in Surat Thani province, recounted the events of Friday, May 12 when he was en route to Bangkok, transporting a pickup car on a trailer to his brother’s garage. Upon reaching the checkpoint in Chumphon, he was instructed to halt for inspection. Suwit cooperated and provided all the necessary documents, but to his dismay, it wasn’t sufficient.

 

According to Suwit, the officers informed him that he could not proceed with his journey unless the actual owner of the car accompanied him. Suwit tried to explain that the pickup belonged to one of his customers and that it was impractical to contact the customer in the middle of the night.

 

Suwit said he made a call to a lawyer to ask for suggestions. He said he ended up transferring 30,000 baht to the officers to continue the journey. He said this incident marked the breaking point for him, prompting him to take a stand against the extortion he had endured.

 

Suwit claimed that he had been extorted twice before, amounting to 230,000 baht. He disclosed that he gave the police 160,000 baht two years ago. The second extortion occurred on March 4 of last year, but he did not mention how much he had paid.

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/police-in-southern-thailand-accused-of-extorting-230000-baht

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-18

 

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[steven100]

well who would have ever thunk that     ????

[HuskerDo2]

Corruption at the hands of the police? Shocking!

[ozz1]

Typical RTP this will continue if the people in high places don't stamp it out but unfortunately I can't see that happening sad really

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Suwit said he made a call to a lawyer to ask for suggestions. He said he ended up transferring 30,000 baht to the officers to continue the journey. He said this incident marked the breaking point for him, prompting him to take a stand against the extortion he had endured.

 

Suwit claimed that he had been extorted twice before, amounting to 230,000 baht. He disclosed that he gave the police 160,000 baht two years ago. The second extortion occurred on March 4 of last year, but he did not mention how much he had paid.

Mafia in disguise.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

well who would have ever thunk that     ????

Just about everyone.

[hotchilli]

47 minutes ago, ozz1 said:

Typical RTP this will continue if the people in high places don't stamp it out but unfortunately I can't see that happening sad really

People in high places are the route of the problem.

[klauskunkel]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He said he ended up transferring 30,000 baht to the officers to continue the journey.

They'll charge him now with bribery, unless he pays another 30,000.

[Gottfrid]

Impossible! Thai police is one of the most honest organisations in the world.

[Purdey]

It looks like they didn't ask for the bribe but he offered it and they accepted.

[ChipButty]

Obviously no receipts 

[Mavideol]

should be an easy one for Big Joke to investigate, he has proof of the bank transfer and a lawyer was involved, was the police officer(s) that stupid or is there more to the story

[trainman34014]

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

People in high places are the route of the problem.

Well; Root anyway !

[PETERTHEEATER]

He was transporting a customer's vehicle from his garage (repair shop?) In Surat Thani to Bangkok. Said vehicle was on a trailer towed by the complainant in his own unidentified vehicle. Thats a long journey.

Likely, the police stopped him knowing that the trailer would not not meet traffic regulation (lights, registration etc) and was ripe for a 'ticket'

All his documents were in order.......this I doubt.

He set himself up. If the Chumphon checkpoint had not stopped him the later Hua Hin Highway 4 checkpoint would have.

[brianthainess]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Suwit claimed that he had been extorted twice before, amounting to 230,000 baht. He disclosed that he gave the police 160,000 baht two years ago. The second extortion occurred on March 4 of last year, but he did not mention how much he had paid.

So got caught out twice before, why not just make the phone call, impractical or not? and make sure you have a letter from the owner in future. (I'll bet no lights on the trailer 100%)