3 Burmese men accuse Thai police of extorting 100,000 baht

Three Burmese men sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after accusing Thai officers at Borwin Police Station in Chon Buri of filing false charges in a bid to arrest and physically assault them to extort 100,000 baht.

After receiving the complaint from the Burmese men, Saimai Survive, posted the story on Facebook yesterday, October 24, along with a picture of a scar from the alleged physical assault on the back of one of the Burmese men.

The organisation said that on October 22, Borwin Police Station patrol officers arrested three Burmese men and accused them of entering Thailand illegally. The Burmese men insisted that they were in the country legally and could prove their status but the police ignored them.

According to the Burmese nationals, officers took them to the police station and forced them to admit the charge as they physically assaulted them. The officers then demanded 100,000 baht and promised they would close the case. They had no choice and agreed to pay the money for their safety.

The Burmese men told the organisation that one of the police officers arrogantly boasted after extorting the money.

“Are you all angry with me? Any problems? If you pass by the police station, you can stop by and get free coffee from me, OK?”

Thai netizens expressed sympathy for the three victims, acknowledging their hard-earned money had been unjustly confiscated by the police.

Many voiced concerns about the likelihood of the three individuals receiving fair treatment in their quest for justice. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) appeared to be limited in its response, primarily resorting to reassigning corrupt officers rather than pursuing more robust measures.

An investigation into the matter is now underway, as stated by Anake Sathongyu, the superintendent of Borwin Police Station, in his conversation with ThaiRath.

Every police officer present on the day of the incident will undergo questioning as part of the ongoing inquiry. Anake has encouraged the three Burmese men to undergo a medical examination, with the results serving as crucial evidence.

Assuring that justice will prevail for all parties involved, Anake committed to allowing any implicated team members to face legal consequences, pledging not to offer any assistance or support to the police officers under scrutiny.

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