Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

A man accused of being part of a criminal gang that impersonated police officers, abducted a teenager, planted drugs, and extorted 800,000 baht has been re-arrested after previously fleeing court proceedings by removing his electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet.

 

Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), acting on orders from Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichaya Sriprasertphap, arrested 38-year-old Mr. Thongchai on April 29 on Soi Hathairat 31 in Khlong Sam Wa District, Bangkok. He was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Min Buri Criminal Court on August 17, 2022, for multiple charges including criminal association, impersonating law enforcement officers, unlawful detention, coercion, and fraud.

 

The arrest stems from a 2022 incident in which Mr. Thongchai and four accomplices falsely presented themselves as police officers. They approached a male teenager and claimed to have discovered 10 methamphetamine pills and a quantity of crystal methamphetamine on him. Using threats of prosecution and imprisonment, they coerced the victim into surrendering his car and other valuables, worth more than 800,000 baht, in exchange for his release.

 

Terrified for his safety, the victim complied, handing over all his possessions. After being released, he promptly reported the incident to Min Buri Police Station. Investigations revealed that the suspects were not real police officers and that the drugs used in the scheme had been planted by the gang to frame the victim.

 

Authorities gathered sufficient evidence to obtain arrest warrants for all five suspects, including Mr. Thongchai, who was initially apprehended and released on bail with an EM bracelet.

 

However, upon learning that the court had sentenced several of his accomplices to prison, Mr. Thongchai cut off his EM device and went into hiding, failing to appear in court. A new arrest warrant was issued, leading to his capture.

 

Mr. Thongchai continues to deny all charges. He has been remanded by the Min Buri Criminal Court for further legal proceedings.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-04-30.

 

 

 

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