Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has resolved to indict six people, including a police colonel, over an alleged scheme to demand 6 million baht in exchange for securing bail for a British national detained on immigration charges. The decision follows an investigation into claims that money was solicited in return for influencing state officials to obtain the release of British national Ritesh Patel.

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According to the NACC, there are sufficient grounds to prosecute Pol Col Rames Kaewsoongnern, Witthaya Somsrisomsakul and four others for allegedly requesting payments linked to Mr Patel’s release from immigration detention. Investigators concluded the alleged payments were sought under the pretence that senior officials could arrange his bail, but Mr Patel was never released.

The case stems from Mr Patel’s arrest by Operational Unit 2 officers on June 27, 2022. He was detained at the Phuket Immigration Office after allegedly entering Thailand using another person’s travel information. Authorities said he later asked Thirawan Khieongam to present his passport, which had already been cancelled and his visa revoked.

Mr Patel was transferred the following day to the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok. After his transfer, Ms Thirawan sought assistance from a third party in an effort to secure his release on bail.

The NACC investigation found that the third party contacted Mr Witthaya on June 29. Claiming to know Pol Col Rames and stating he could arrange Mr Patel’s release, Mr Witthaya allegedly requested an initial payment of 1 million baht, which Ms Thirawan transferred to the bank account of Apirak Thiangtham.

Investigators said Mr Witthaya later demanded an additional 5 million baht, claiming that a total of 6 million baht was required to coordinate the bail through Pol Col Rames and immigration officials. Ms Thirawan subsequently transferred the remaining funds into the accounts of Nattanaree Boonma and Thipsuda Insongjai. Despite the payments, Mr Patel at the time, remained in custody.

The anti-corruption agency said investigators later traced the money to accounts belonging to Mr Witthaya, Pol Col Rames and the officer’s wife, Booraya Kaewsoongnern. Based on the evidence gathered, the commission resolved that criminal proceedings should be pursued.

The Bangkokpost reported that the NACC said there are grounds to charge Mr Witthaya under Section 143 of the Criminal Code and the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption. The case will now proceed through the legal process as prosecutors consider the charges against those named in the investigation.

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10 July 2026

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6 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The Bangkokpost reported that the NACC said there are grounds to charge Mr Witthaya under Section 143 of the Criminal Code and the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption

Section 143 is simply acting as a paid agent to influence the decision of a Thai official.

Edited July 9Jul 9 by JerryM

Ridiculous money that can be asked.. What will happen with the accused?? transferred to an inactivate post and the rest business as usual?? There is never a severe punishment in these cases

Off topic troll post removed @sungod this is the news section , discuss the topic, not your opinion on someone’s name.

32 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Ridiculous money that can be asked.. What will happen with the accused?? transferred to an inactivate post and the rest business as usual?? There is never a severe punishment in these cases

Punishment will come when they have to pay back the 6 million Baht, believe me 😂

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

alleged scheme to demand 6 million baht

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

initial payment of 1 million baht

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

6 million baht was required

I'm impressed that so much money was available at the"snap of the fingers."

Maybe Witthaya should have followed up for an additional 10 million that might influence NACC?

A few transfers to inactive post maybe some of the higher-ups will take a little piece of the action it’ll all be swept under the table don’t hear anything more about this in a few weeks next TIT

33 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

transferred to an inactivate post and the rest business as usual??

Since moving to Thailand over 20 years this has always been the case. While this may result in significant loss of earnings and loss of face, this undermines the justice system. If this is worse that can happen, this just emboldens high ranking senior police officers to commit fraud. 6 million baht , well worht the risk for a couple days of work.

Edited July 10Jul 10 by riverhigh

So whatever happened to Ritesh Patel? Arrested in Jun 2022 and no word until now, after doing a search through this site.

As for Mr. Patel, he has not only lost 6 million baht (no refund policy to the best of my knowledge - smile) but he now faces serious charges of bribing a police officer. The police offices gets sent ot an inactive post while Patel does the time in jail. That's what happens when you dance with the devil. Life is a bitch and then you die.

Well no surprises here bribery is part of the course if you have the money most things can be bought off but not in this case

All involved should receive jail time but we know this won't happen the usual is to be sent to inactive posts comes to mind

NB This whole thing was exposed in 2022 by one of the players who realized she had been swindled:

Mr Witthaya then told Mr Thananwat to tell Ms Thirawan to transfer 6 million baht to some bank accounts. However, after the money was transferred, Mr Witthaya made little attempt to secure bail and could not be reached on his phone.

Ms Thirawan then decided to file a police complaint against the group with the Pak Klongsan police.

The 6 million baht was found to have been remitted to third-party bank accounts before the money was eventually transferred to Pol Col Ramet's and his family members' bank accounts, as well as accounts owned by Mr Witthaya.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2349318/five-people-including-senior-cop-charged-for-swindling-detained-brit

49 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Punishment will come when they have to pay back the 6 million Baht, believe me 😂

That money is long gone. If a return is demanded, it will quietly drift away.

That's a chunk of change. Why did Mr Patel, on a phony book, want to stay in Thailand so badly? What was he running from? Never promise what you can't deliver, or there will be consequences.

4 hours ago, JerryM said:

Section 143 is simply acting as a paid agent to influence the decision of a Thai official.

So, 'simply' an offence, then.

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

So, 'simply' an offence, then.

Simply was just not to post the entire official wording.

The potential penalty is "shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years or fine not exceeding ten thousand Baht, or both."

Edited July 10Jul 10 by JerryM

42 minutes ago, bdenner said:

So whatever happened to Ritesh Patel? Arrested in Jun 2022 and no word until now, after doing a search through this site.

1. Ritesh Patel, 43, from Cardiff, was a leader of an organised crime group involved in large-scale cocaine and heroin distribution using fake NHS patient transport vans.

2. He fled to Dubai and then Thailand, where he was arrested in June 2022 for possessing a fraudulent passport.

3. After extradition proceedings (a Thai court ruling in his favor for extradition, an appeal, and a final order in August 2025), he was extradited to the UK in October 2025 with assistance from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Thai authorities.

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Ridiculous money that can be asked.. What will happen with the accused?? transferred to an inactivate post and the rest business as usual?? There is never a severe punishment in these cases

Perhaps punishments are applied that are commensurate with Thai law?

If and whenever this does eventually end up in court will the procedures take place in front of the public, or behind closed doors as in the current case with Big Joke?

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12 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

That money is long gone. If a return is demanded, it will quietly drift away.

That's a chunk of change. Why did Mr Patel, on a phony book, want to stay in Thailand so badly? What was he running from? Never promise what you can't deliver, or there will be consequences.

Since he transferred the money to bank accounts it's easy to check where is was going. So, not lost, only someone (else) got it. 😁 Maybe a plot or a car? Or gold?

And yes, there's something more in this story. I bet he is hiding something. Maybe we'll read about it soon..

10 minutes ago, Roel said:

Ritesh Patel, 43, from Cardiff, was a leader of an organised crime group involved in large-scale cocaine and heroin distribution using fake NHS patient transport vans.

To embellish here 26 March 2026:

https://www.tarianrocu.org.uk/news/organised-crime-fugitive-sentenced/

Edited July 10Jul 10 by JerryM

48 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

As for Mr. Patel, he has not only lost 6 million baht (no refund policy to the best of my knowledge - smile) but he now faces serious charges of bribing a police officer. The police offices gets sent ot an inactive post while Patel does the time in jail.

"...he now faces serious charges of bribing a police officer".

Where did you see the report that stated that he was being charged with bribing a police officer? Did he bribe the police officer or did a third party?

23 minutes ago, Front Row said:

If and whenever this does eventually end up in court will the procedures take place in front of the public, or behind closed doors as in the current case with Big Joke?

What is "behind closed doors" of the Surachate case?

If you think dirty dealings are the exception rather than the rule then you need to understand how promotion happens in the police.

Many new recruits pay an entry fee to get hired. All recruits are given a target of how much they must collect and pass up the line, anything over and above that they get to keep. As you get higher up your target is larger.

Those altruistic new recruits who don’t “play the game” don’t get promoted.

This means practically all higher positions are corrupt. You end up with a police force that is entirely rotten except for some at the lowest rank.

As you get higher up the echelons, you have to buy your promotion also, senior roles can cost half a million dollars or more.

It's always a good thing when this level of corruption is exposed, especially when it becomes an international incident causing Thailand severe embarrassment. It's all about face here so this kind of thing tends to really sting.

The degree of corruption with the RTP is something that most people would find astonishing, but I seriously doubt there will be any repercussions. My guess is that the anti-corruption commission is just as corrupt as the RTP.

Must be wanted back in the UK to consider paying that amount to avoid deportation.

Lou non-scouse he is doing 20 years in the UK.

6 million just for bail on immigration charges - didn't Mr Patel know max fine 20k & deportation blacklisted - his shady dealings is another matter to come up with that amount so quickly - which ok charge him for whatever crimes he's allegedly committed - anyone know what happened to Mr Patel the fine upstanding Brit after been deportrd? 😜

Edited July 10Jul 10 by phil2407
Needed to add bit more

Why am I not surprised! TIT

From the above:

Ms Thirawan then decided to file a police complaint against the group with the Pak Klongsan police.

This time the complaint was internal. Sometimes it is just because someone makes a stupid mistake or accident. Or like the time an Apple engineer left a secret prototype iPhone in a bar. Or as noted in the OP because they were able to track a bunch of bank transfers that would have not been readily possible a few years ago.

Edited July 10Jul 10 by JerryM