Rogue Journalists Pose As Cops to Extort Money

CHIANG RAI:--Two Chiang Rai journalists pretending to be policemen were arrested during a violent extortion attempt at an Internet game shop. The men beat several store employees and fired a gun in the air to threaten the owner. The arrested men later refused to sign formal accusations from police.

CHIANG RAI – September 9, 2012 [PDN]; The media were alerted to a video clip on the Internet showing employees of a Chiang Rai internet shop being beaten by a group of men who were impersonating police officers. The shop, named Virgin Net, is located at 665/4 Srikerd Road, municipal of Chiang Rai, Amphur Muang Chiangrai.

The video footage from the shop’s CCTV showed the group of men slapping and punching the employees of the shop, and then beating the shop owner.

The thugs then went outside to the front of the shop and kicked the motorbikes of the customers until the bikes toppled over. They then took out a pistol that they fired many times in the air as a threat.

The arrests of two men of that group of thugs occurred on September 8, 2012. At 3 a.m. the Chiang Rai police station was notified of a violent incident at the game shop, so the police rushed to the scene.

Police found two men arguing with the employees in the shop, so the police hurried to stop them. But the two men went outside the shop, where more fighting occurred. Then one of the men shot a pistol into the air three times before they were arrested by police, who took them to the police station.

Of the two arrested suspects, one man is the reporter of a local newspaper and the other man is the reporter of a TV station and the central newspaper in Chiang Rai.

The police initially charged the suspects with possessing a gun and taking the gun into town without necessary cause, and shooting in a public place without necessary cause.

Both suspects refused to comply and did not consent to sign their names to acknowledge the accusations by police. Later, they were bailed out after paying 200,000 THB.

Full story:http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2012/09/10/rogue-journalists-pose-as-cops-to-extort-money/

--PATTAYA DAILY NEWS 2012-09-10

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It seems bail, like suspended sentences, are there for the buying if you can afford them.... and even for violent criminals.

Sure hope catching these guys acts as a deterrent to others. We wouldn’t want this kind of thing to become the norm here in Chiang Rai. You never know about people however.

And to think there is a big Police Seminar at Inn Come hotel. What a shame. They should publish photos of those two criminals - so that we know who they are. Oh - It's in the attached link on the original post. Interesting...

And to think there is a big Police Seminar at Inn Come hotel. What a shame. They should publish photos of those two criminals - so that we know who they are. Oh - It's in the attached link on the original post. Interesting...

Guess they took your advice.

and from the second camera, our duo are at their finest beating up a woman.

Both suspects refused to comply and did not consent to sign their names to acknowledge the accusations by police. Later, they were bailed out after paying 200,000 THB.

Is it a quirk of the Law, but how can they be bailed if they haven't 'acknowledge(d) the accusations by police'?

Ah, it looks like a computer gaming shop.

They seem quite successful; there's a couple in my village and the kids flock there, no computer at home I suppose.

Creating their own 'news worthy' stories were they?

Bet they work undercover for Murdoch....

You often pass that shop Scea, it is only 2 or 3 doors down from my wife's (now thankfully sold ) restaurant.

Oh, ok, I seldom go down that way now, just to get chicken jerky for the dog.

Journalists trying to muscle in on the real cops extortion territory...

To have a decent chance to succeed at extortion you'd need to dress up as an extortionist

Both suspects refused to comply and did not consent to sign their names to acknowledge the accusations by police. Later, they were bailed out after paying 200,000 THB.

Is it a quirk of the Law, but how can they be bailed if they haven't 'acknowledge(d) the accusations by police'?

Not acknowledging the accusations doesn't change anything.

It seems bail, like suspended sentences, are there for the buying if you can afford them.... and even for violent criminals.

Based on the minor charges it doesn't sound like the victims are willing to press. And bail is not a get out of jail card, it's a security deposit which will be returned when the accused return to court and are sentenced. Since the official charges made are minor, bail is appropriate.

Fck me, I just spent 19 minutes wasting my time watching a shop with nobody in it. . ridiculous

Heard today that after seeing the news reports on this, 5 or 6 other internet shops reported to the police that they too had been extorted by those guys, so new warrants were put out for them.

Extraordinary behaviour by two, middle class, well educated, dingdongs

Heard today that after seeing the news reports on this, 5 or 6 other internet shops reported to the police that they too had been extorted by those guys, so new warrants were put out for them.

has there been any more news on this subject.