5 Chon Buri police officers accused of extorting money from drug suspects
Five officers from the Nong Prue Police Station in Chon Buri have been transferred after two drug suspects accused them of extorting 150,000 baht in exchange for their freedom.
A 60 year old woman named Raewadee Sirapanich and 18 year old woman named Anna filed a complaint against five police officers for kidnap and ransom at Nong Prue Police Station on Monday, March 13.
Raewadee explained that she was arrested by the five police officers for possessing and using crystal methamphetamine at her house on March 11. The officers did not wear uniforms but presented themselves as officers from the Chon Buri Narcotics Suppression Bureau.
After confessing to using the drug, Raewadee claimed that she was taken to a house in the Nong Preu sud-district, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, where the officers told her to pay 50,000 baht in exchange for her freedom. She had only 31,000 and the officers agreed and let her go.
Raewadee added that her son transferred the money to a bank account named Wanchai Samoonprai. However, she suspected that they were not real police officers and decided to file a complaint.
Anna told her story to the officers saying she and her boyfriend were arrested for using drugs and were taken to the same safe house as Raewadee. Anna claimed that she had not committed any crimes, but admitted that her boyfriend had used drugs.
Anna said the group demanded 100,000 baht from her and her boyfriend, but their families could find only 60,000 baht. However, the families decided not to transfer the money, as they suspected that the police group was not legitimate. They turned to several news agencies and reported the issue to them. In fear of being exposed, the gang released Anna and prosecuted her boyfriend according to the processes.
According to the Commissioner of the Chon Buri Provincial Police Office, Kampon Leelaprapakorn, the five officers in question were from the investigative police department. They have been transferred from their former positions to work at the Chon Buri Provincial Police until the investigation of the accusation completes.
