2 soldiers detained after extortion complaint

[Rimmer]

2 soldiers detained after extortion complaint

PATTAYA:--Two Thai military officers were detained, but not charged, after they allegedly colluded with a pair of South Korean gangsters to extort a half-million baht from a Pattaya massage parlor owner.

Maj. Prawee Jindawan and Master Sgt. 1st Class Chalermyut Thongmak were escorted to Pattaya Police Station April 6 after they allegedly set up a meeting to receive the extortion payment at the Big C Extra mall from Siriyupa Thongdee, owner of the World Massage, and her husband, Jung Wu Kim.

The couple had gone to police after the two soldiers and unidentified South Korea men, believed to be part of a criminal syndicate, showed up at their shop demanding 500,000 baht within 24 hours. If they did not pay, they would be harmed, Siriyupa quoted the men as saying.

Siriyupa said her husband, a man known only as Mr. Chang, and several other Koreans and Thais - including some military personnel - had hatched a plan to open a pub in Buriram. They went to inspect the site and Jung came home telling his wife he thinks his intended partners were angry with him for some unknown reason.

The plan for the pub was dropped and he thought the matter was concluded until the extortionists showed up at the shop.

Prawee - who reportedly put on airs, claiming his rank was too high for Pattaya police to question him - finally agreed to talk to police, but not before telephoning Pattaya police superintendent Col. Sukthat Pumpunmuang in an apparent attempt at having the matter quashed.

He told police that Mr. Chang had taken 500,000 baht from him and his partners and they had gone to the massage parlor merely to inquire if Jung knew about the missing money.

Pattaya police bowed to the military officer’s wishes and let him go without charges. Prawee said he’d take his pursuit of the missing money to Bangkok and file a police report there.

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/2-soldiers-detained-after-extortion-complaint-46291#sthash.DZUCffxc.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2015-04-17

[Costas2008]

If this is a true story and I don't see an update soon that these soldiers are behind bars for extortion, my believe and trust to this government will take a down hill turn.

Hope that this doesn't happen.

I'm waiting..............................

[petercool]

Due to the long process if someone is indeed charged and appears in court, it may take months before any resolution and media do not seem to keep open on-going files on any case after the initial reports so don't hold your breath waiting for updates.

[NeverSure]

If this is a true story and I don't see an update soon that these soldiers are behind bars for extortion, my believe and trust to this government will take a down hill turn.

Hope that this doesn't happen.

I'm waiting..............................

Costas, you can take comfort in finding out that this is all a matter of which side people are on. This isn't a country wide cleansing but rather a certain shirt color cleansing. The advertised cleanups either don't happen or they happen to people who don't have the right friends.

This guy may get hammered because it went public and the leaders will have to save face. But that doesn't tell of all of the other people who stay off the radar.

This is and has always been about the Bangkok elite and the army taking power back from a side that won every election for more than ten years. Yes, I know the elected side was bad but TiT. Corruption is everywhere and who is doing it depends on who has the power at the moment.

[Anthony5]

Due to the long process if someone is indeed charged and appears in court, it may take months before any resolution and media do not seem to keep open on-going files on any case after the initial reports so don't hold your breath waiting for updates.

But in the OP it was clearly mentioned that he was let off the hook, so there will be no lengthy process, hence no follow up also.

This is just another case of, do you know who I am and who I know.

[petercool]

^^^ yes, I was making a general statement about such new items and take your point.

[zaphod reborn]

It would be difficult for anyone to be immediately charged in this case, although it doesn't look good for Prawee and his boys. Chang is claiming Prawee and his partners are extorting him for money. Prawee claims Chang took money from him and he is just trying to recover it. I doubt the Pattaya police are willing to invest the time to properly investigate this matter.

Edited April 17, 2015 by zaphod reborn

[petercool]

Post using inappropriate language removed

[chaiyapoon]

Thats the thai way to getting easy money. Why work for it?

Unfortunately some of the military will be no better than the police.

The police will want to highlight this as it makes them look better.

Without the top man pushing anti corruption nothing would change.

Its a national pastime with too many in a position to gain from it taking full advantage.

[billd766]

If this is a true story and I don't see an update soon that these soldiers are behind bars for extortion, my believe and trust to this government will take a down hill turn.

Hope that this doesn't happen.

I'm waiting..............................

Costas, you can take comfort in finding out that this is all a matter of which side people are on. This isn't a country wide cleansing but rather a certain shirt color cleansing. The advertised cleanups either don't happen or they happen to people who don't have the right friends.

This guy may get hammered because it went public and the leaders will have to save face. But that doesn't tell of all of the other people who stay off the radar.

This is and has always been about the Bangkok elite and the army taking power back from a side that won every election for more than ten years. Yes, I know the elected side was bad but TiT. Corruption is everywhere and who is doing it depends on who has the power at the moment.

Isn't evidence and proof a wonderful thing to take to court rather than I said/he said. If the guy can prove it then I am on his side, if he can't it is in a grey area.

Whichever side is going through the courts now are there because the prosecution believes there is a case.

Form the OP above can you see any evidence? If the police can't see any how can they charge anybody?

[doremifasol]

"Prawee claimed his rank was too high to be questioned

but not too high for being a criminal"

Pff...............

[billd766]

"Prawee claimed his rank was too high to be questioned

but not too high for being a criminal"

Pff...............

Perhaps he should have been reminded that even senior Police Generals are not too high in rank to be questioned and are criminals.

[balo]

The picture only reveals a farang getting a foot massage , he must be thrilled...

[Suffinator]

And the moral of the story is ... don't do any business in Thailand.

[Khun Riki]

I am in doubt this massage comes with happy end...

[snowgard]

What I not understand is that all this businesses make a lot of Money but don't invest 30.000-60.000 Baht for a real good hidden Securitysystem with HD Video & Voice Recording. All this cases would be solved very easy!!!