Official denies extortion and bodily harm charges

CHALONG: Sassiri Klinhom, a district official from Surat Thani, presented himself to Chalong Police Station on June 1 to deny charges of extortion and causing bodily harm.

Pol Lt Col Jessada Sangsuree told the Gazette that at about 10 am on May 29, he and other officers responded to a call saying that a woman had been found handcuffed and drugged in a house in the Phuket Country Home estate on Chao Fa East Rd.

They arrived to find residents looking after Jitra Soonsud, 35, who was still in a daze, reportedly from being forced to swallow several pills.

Col Jessada said that K. Jitra explained to police that she was an independent real estate broker and lived in nearby Land & Houses Park.

“K. Jitra said that she had agreed to buy a house at Phuket Sea View development in Rawai from K. Sassiri for 1.8 million baht. She had already paid 1.3 million baht and had 500,000 baht yet to pay,” the colonel said.

“However, she said that K. Sassiri had told her that he now wanted to cancel the deal,” he added.

K. Jitra told police that she went to K. Sassiri’s house to discuss the matter but when she arrived she saw him waiting with a man aged between 30 and 40 years old. “She said they grabbed her and took her into the house, then handcuffed her and forced her to take some pills that made her drowsy,” Col Jessada said.

K. Jitra alleged that the two men then forced her to sign a document and took 105,000 baht in cash, which K. Jitra was carrying and had intended to take to a bank after her meeting with K. Sassiri.

“They also took her house and safe keys, and then drove off in her gold-colored Toyota Vios, leaving her in the house,” he said.

Asked what explanation K. Sassiri had given as to how K. Jitra had been found handcuffed and in his house, Col Jessada said that he could offer no more details.

“We are continuing our investigation. We have yet to find her car or the other man she has accused,” he said.

Col Jessada confirmed that K. Sassiri, Assistant Registrar at Kian Za District Office, was released from police custody after posting bail of 150,000 baht.