Nong Khai:- Six Thai policemen and three Thai civilians have been arrested for allegedly collaborating to extort money from a Lao family after making false drug charge against the mother and the son of the family.

The arrest against the nine suspects was made by over 60 Nong Khai police and immigration officers led by Nong Khai Police chief Pol Maj Gen Churat Pan-ngao.

The six policemen came from Udon Thani but they arrested the Lao mother and son in Nong Khai and they allegedly had the mother call her husband and daughter to bring cash of Bt2 million to them in exchange for their release.

The arrest was made at 7 pm at the car park of Wat Chan Samakkhi near the Thai-Lao Friendship border checkpoint in Mueang district.

The six policemen were identified as Pol Capt Surapat Pensri, Pol Lt Pirapong Tripong, Pol Sub-Lt Somdej Sukrom, Pol Senior Sgt Maj Pakorn Sukprasert, Pol Senior Sgt Chainarong Ordee, and Pol Senior Sgt Maj Weerawat Tanuchon.

The three civilians were identified as Tawatchai Tipsupha, Tee Arjsuwan, and Patcharamai Promwitchalai.

Churat planned the arrest after Duangkham Tanthakaew, 60, and Puangmalee, 20, sought his help.

The daughter told police that her mother, Buachan Tanthakaew, 55, and her brother, Ponsawan, 14, were arrested by the group of policemen on charges of being involved with a drug trafficking ring.

Duangkham said her mother called her that the policemen wanted Bt2 million in exchange for the release.

Churat had Duangkham callled one of the policemen, saying she was willing to pay only Bt300,000. The suspects were rounded up when they turned up for money.

Buachan told police after her rescue that she and her son visited Nong Khai to buy goods but a Lao man called her, saying someone would ask her to carry something for him.

She agreed to take an envelop from the person but while she was about to exit the country at the checkpoint, the group of policemen and turned up and searched the enveloped and found Bt60,000 in cash. They alleged that the money came from drug selling and arrested her and her son.

The six policemen have been fired to pave way for both legal and disciplinary investigations.

Not very bright, these policemen......are they?

They haven't realised yet, that old habits are changing in Thailand.

Good for Pol Maj Gen Churat Pan-ngao.

Hope that there are many more like him around.

Gangsters in uniform

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

It never ends in this country and there does not one single day go by when we cannot read from one channel or another that a police officer has been accused of this or that.

This entire corrupt-to-the-bone police force needs to be dismantled entirely and a totally new force needs to be established. The problem is of course that once again all those bad rotten apples will somehow find a way back to re-join, because after all everybody's got a cousin or other relative who can endorse papers.

This country is hopeless. The corrupt appoint the corrupt, that's what it all boils down to.

2 Laotians being ripped off by 9 Thais being arrested by 60 Thai police. Glad this didn't escalate further otherwise an Army battalion (300 to 800 soldiers) would may have been brought in to arrest the 60 Thai police.

probably not their first time to do this.

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

The six policemen have been fired to pave way for both legal and disciplinary investigations.

Maybe they posted bail?

I believe there is something called a court case before any jail time. I too hope they end up behind bars, and not the type where beer is sold.

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

but much better than being moved to an inactive post?

<Snip>The six policemen have been fired to pave way for both legal and disciplinary investigations.<Snip>

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

Why fired????????

The normal way is that they would go to an "inactive" job at some desk.

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

The six policemen have been fired to pave way for both legal and disciplinary investigations.

Maybe they posted bail?

I believe there is something called a court case before any jail time. I too hope they end up behind bars, and not the type where beer is sold.

More like they promised not to name higher ups. ( or once out of custody they can be silenced)

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

I read arrest, and fired, but where did it say released, on bail or otherwise?

Six police dismissed for kidnap, ransom: Somyot
Jessada Jantarak,
Seksanti Kalayanawisut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- SIX POLICE officers accused of kidnapping two Laotians over the weekend and demanding Bt2 million in ransom have been dismissed from their duties and face a probe.

Pol General Somyot Poompan-moung, national police chief, said any police officer found taking bribes would be arrested and investigated by a special team from the central authority.

The six officers, who were stationed at Muang Udon Thani Police, allegedly joined three civilians in detaining a 50-year-old Laotian woman and her 14-year-old son on a bogus drug charge to demand a ransom of Bt2 million. The victim's Laotian husband filed a complaint with Nong Khai police, who then held a sting operation to arrest the officers in Nong Khai province on Sunday.

Somyot said members of the public had complained for sometime about the allegedly inappropriate behaviour of the six officers in arresting drug suspects to gain assets in exchange for their release.

Somyot instructed the Provincial Police Region 4 to keep an eye on the officers until they had solid evidence to arrest them. As these six police officers were initially dismissed from the civil service, the investigation would extend to their supervisors, who would be punished if involved, the police chief said.

Pol Maj-General Chaiyat Saitin, Udon Thani police chief, confirmed that he set up a disciplinary committee to probe the six officers, who were dismissed from duty pending a probe. He said an initial report suggested the officers were involved in a drug arrest but then turned out to allegedly be involved in bribery in Nong Khai. So, police would investigate what happened first.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Six-police-dismissed-for-kidnap-ransom-Somyot-30258879.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-28

Simply despicable. Cretins who disgrace the Royal name of the police force. Make an example of them.

Congrats to the authorities for arresting these types of criminals. Never would have happened a bit over a year ago. Maybe progress is being made???

60 Officers involved in the arrest - and the suspects were not tipped off

That a surprise!, but I am not complaining.

This is now the second time that I have seen the word dismissed used for police officers, hope the trend continues.

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

I'm just surprised they weren't transferred to an 'inactive post'.

They'll be in Laos by now opening up a karaoke bar.

Why fired, why r they not in jail tonight?

Why fired????????

The normal way is that they would go to an "inactive" job at some desk.

They needed to be given a really stern lesson this time.....

Their names and ranks are missing in the article.

Their names and ranks are missing in the article.

See 5th sentence of the OP.

Gangsters in uniform

No mafias in Thailand, RTP controls everything

Their names and ranks are missing in the article.

See 5th sentence of the OP.

Thank you. I think I responded to the other article a bit further down the page.