Phuket police probe alleged kidnapping, extortion shakedown by officials

[snoop1130]

Phuket police probe alleged kidnapping, extortion shakedown by officials

Eakkapop Thongtub

Myanmar national Maung Moe allegedly lost B120,000 in the shakedown by men who claimed to be part of a 'anti-illegal immigrant task force'. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET:-- Police say they have identified one of five men who allegedly kidnapped a Myanmar man in Phuket Town and extorted B120,000 from him before releasing him near Wat Naka in Wichit yesterday (Aug 1).

 

The 40-year-old Myanmar national, Maung Moe, who also goes by the name “Oalek”, filed a complaint over the alleged kidnapping and extortion at Phuket City Police Station at 3pm yesterday.

 

He was accompanied by his employer, named by police only as “Mr Sombat” (not his real name), age 42.

 

Mr Maung Moe told police that four men who claimed to be part of a “special task force targeting illegal migrants” forced him into a black Toyota Vigo pickup truck in front of Phuket Community Hall on Narisorn Rd last Thursday (July 28).

 

Once he was in the pickup truck, the men seized his Siam Commercial Bank ATM card and his mobile phone from him, Mr Maung Moe said.

 

“He said they stopped and waited on Surin Rd for more than 30 minutes for another vehicle,” reported Capt Kraisorn Phakaree of the Phuket City Police.

 

While waiting, the men demanded B200,000 from Maung Moe. If he did not pay, the men said they would arrest him for performing work not defined in his work permit, he added.

 

While Mr Maung Moe was attempting to convince his abductors that he was unable to pay the ransom, a Toyota Vios arrived.

 

“Mr Maung Moe said that the driver, who he said was a middle-aged man whom the men called ‘Palad’, stepped out of the car and searched him before taking him into his vehicle,” Capt Kraisorn reported.

 

“He said they took him to a PTT petrol station on Chao Fa West Rd and asked for his PIN number to withdraw cash from an ATM,” Capt Kraisorn said.

 

“I felt threatened by them and frightened for my family’s safety,” Mr Maung Moe told police. “At one point the driver called someone on his phone and said that the team had arrested one Myanmar migrant and asked how long the sentence would be ‘for this one’,” he said.

 

Full Story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-police-probe-alleged-kidnapping-extortion-shakedown-by-officials-58509.php#045eB0mSK05Y2ZGo.97

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2016-08-02

[Rhys]

The Army boys need to re-educate this so called pos.... Trust they get to the bottom of this..

[IAMHERE]

Is Thailand trying to be the new Mexico ?

[lvr181]

Shakedowns are the preserve of "officials", not those claiming to be officials?  

[SOTIRIOS]

......sadly sounds about right.......

 

...now go and beg for some basic human rights.....

 

...and a lawyer.....or a hospital....if need be...will cost a fortune.....

 

...so not many options......