Phuket cop arrested after French man robbed of B490,000
Naraporn Tuarob


Pol Sen Sgt Maj Pichan Kaewkongdharm.

PHUKET: -- A Phuket policeman, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Pichan Kaewkongdharm, has been arrested along with two other men after they were allegedly involved in extorting around B490,000 from a French man.

olice held a press conference yesterday (October 24) at the Phuket Provincial Police Station, and confirmed they had arrested three men, including Sen Sgt Maj Pichan, after they allegedly threatened and stole money from French man Henry Richer.

The incident began when a man named as Boonping Keaw-Ngarndee helped Mr Richer sell a piece of land for B2 million, but Mr Richer allegedly only gave Boonping B2,000 for his help.

So Boonping, along with his friend Kanasanan Pathan decided to get their own back and rob Mr Richer on October 14. They set up a plan for Boonping to meet up with Mr Richer, as the two were connected in drugs circles.

Boonping joined Mr Richer at a hotel room, but then Boonping announced –falsely – that he was a policeman, pulled out a gun and put Mr Richer in handcuffs.

He said Mr Richer needed to pay B3 million to avoid being thrown in jail, but Mr Richer didn’t have enough money.

Boonping and Kanasanan, who had now joined them, then went with Mr Richer to the ATM, but he only had B490,000 in his account. B400,000 was transferred to an account the men had access to, and B90,000 was withdrawn from the ATM.

Boonping and Kanasanan then fled, but not before threatening Mr Richer not to go to the police.

Mr Richer was initially scared to report the event because he was afraid he would be arrested on drugs charges, but eventually decided to make a complaint on October 23.

Boonping, Kanasanan, and Sen Sgt Maj Pichan were then all arrested. After his arrest, Sen Sgt Maj Pichan said he knew the men and had some involvement in the crime, while Boonping and Kanasanan admitted guilt.

Three other men involved have not been named by police, as the investigation continues.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-cop-arrested-after-french-man-robbed-of-b490-000-42548.php


-- Phuket News 2013-10-26

Isn't it interesting when tables are turned at the photo op?

Not so happy now?

Yes, but are they in jail? Arrested does not mean anything in Thailand!

They set up a plan for Boonping to meet up with Mr Richer, as the two were connected in drugs circles.

M Richer, dancing with the wolves.

Isn't it interesting when tables are turned at the photo op?

Not so happy now?

som naam naa!! Wow! my coffee tastes really good this morning.

How does a Thai cop get nicked for crimes against farangs in Thailand, even murder? They don't so something stinks here

Let me guess, free on bail ?

Yes, but are they in jail? Arrested does not mean anything in Thailand!

Does not mean anything if,

Money changes hands

No charges laid

No evidence kept

Nobody can remember anything..

Oh man, he's cooked.

A transfer to police station 10km as punishment awaits. *shudder*

And the money? Bet that doesn't reappear.

How does a Thai cop get nicked for crimes against farangs in Thailand, even murder? They don't so something stinks here

More to the point - This time something doesn't stink...

No 500 baht will prevent this thing from happening again will it?

And the money? Bet that doesn't reappear.

It's been released on bail.

He will get 75 years reduced to 30 then reduced to 3 years probation then reduced to 30 hours community service.

This is good news and a start. Hopefully the new police chief is able to clear some of the rotten bananas away from the Phuket police force.

Another policeman is reassigned.

Three other men involved have not been named by police, as the investigation continues.

And why haven't they been named? a bit higher up the food chain perhaps.

....when they say 'the investigation continues'........guess what that means.....

And the money? Bet that doesn't reappear.

It's been released on bail.

and what about the 2 million baht worth of Land which the Frenchman "owned"?

Another disgraced BIB...Unfortunately there are corrked cops in every country. Let's hop

he does some hard jail time. Set an example for the OTHERS

Shame on the ROYAL Thai Police force.

gave him 2000 baht for helping sell 2M baht land, i'd be pissed too

anyhow, how can a farang sell land (yes i know the ways around the law, but there must have been another Thai involved somewhere right?)

Let me guess, free on bail ?

And it will end up being all the expats fault!

Arrested is vastly different from being put in jail or convicted! This is Thailand, after all !

Why no finger pointing

Yes, but are they in jail? Arrested does not mean anything in Thailand!

Yes, This being the developing country it is, what we see happening in these kinds of cases is once the money is recovered, the victim is "encouraged" to not press charges, as that may be too dangerous.

One very well connected and wealthy expat in Patong had a business credit card pick pocket off one of his employees by a Katoay. The Katoey used it to buy gold at a gold shop with the help of a friend that worked at the gold shop. Eventually the police recovered the gold, money, and credit card, which, of course, the police had to be paid by the victim to do. (That must be the "payment for good governance" Prab Keesin was talking about) but the police told him that it was impossible to press charges once he had been remunerated. If this well connected expat businessman can't get justice, what chance is there for the rest of us, let alone tourists. That's why the criminals know tourists are easy targets. Very unlikely there will be any punishment.

A Senior SGT in the islands police force ? The countries finest but little more than a common thief. Little doubt that within his illustrious career that this was not his first erroneous act.

Why no finger pointing

Because the picture is taken so close they'd have to put their fingers in his ears?????

Maybe they wanted him to shine all by himself and not be associated/seen with him......

He will get 75 years reduced to 30 then reduced to 3 years probation then reduced to 30 hours community service.

And that will be reduced to 30 minutes shake down motorbikes without payment...

I would never let a policeman into my house. I don't trust them.