Thread: Five soldiers, police officer arrested in Bt2m extortion case

There have been several news pieces involving soldiers, I think this one was missing, Admin if I'm wrong please delete

Five soldiers, police officer arrested in Bt2m extortion case

5 suspects, including a high-ranking military officer, a police investigator and four navy sailors, have been arrested for the alleged kidnapping of two businessmen and 20 million baht extortion demand last month.

It is alleged they are members of a gang that has successfully extorted more than 50 million baht from their victims. Two other suspects remain at large.

The six members of the armed services are - Maj Gen Jaroon Arpha, attached to the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, Pol Lt Col Natthakrit Yutthaya, an investigator with the Economic Crime Suppression Division’s sub-division 5, and navy personnel Aphiwat Srinaprom, Thepphithak Ratthanee, Saowadet Sakkittinan and Songwut Thiengtham.

The other suspects are - Opas Sriya, Uthit Kokaew, Thitikorn Chuenura and a Singaporean, Ko Tek Chuan.

Eight of them have been detained and five were allowed bail. Pol Lt Col Natthakrit, Mr Opas and Mr Ko remain in custody. Mr Uthit and Mr Thitikorn remain at large. All are charged with extortion and trespass.

Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal, chief of the Patrol and Special Operation Division (PSOD), said an investigation was launched after Surachai Sae-yang, proprietor of New Gen Airways and Kanta Group (Thailand) Co Ltd, both airline business, sought help from the PSOD last month.

It was alleged a group of nine men, four in military camouflage and five in civilian clothing, intruded on Kanta Group in Soi Nuan Chan 34 in Bung Kum district in search of Mr Surachai and Songsak Virojthaworn on July 14.

The two men were taken from their office to meet Maj Gen Jaroon, who allegedly accused them of using fake house registration documents and identification cards. He allegedly demanded they pay 20 million baht for protection against legal action. They negotiated the payment down to 2 million baht.

Mr Songsak told reporters during a press briefing at Krok Khram police station on Friday that he and Mr Surachai were released after handing over 1 million baht. Another 1 million baht was transferred to Mr Opas’ account on July 17.

He alleged the suspects were known among businessmen as the gang who earlier extorted 10 million baht from a Thai massage parlour operator in Pattaya. A busiessman in Bangkok had paid them the same amount. he said.

Mr Songsak said he paid 1 million baht to ensure his safety and transferred another million baht on July 17 to have evidence to report the case to the police.

Pol Maj Gen Surachet also alleged the gang had extorted several people, estimating their takings at more than 50 million baht.

Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan Pingmuang, chief of the Economic Crime Suppression Division, said on Friday afternoon that Pol Lt Col Natthakrit had been dismissed from the police force. A panel had been appointed to make a serious disciplinary investigation.

He said the criminal case would be pursued according to the law, but the case also involved personal behaviour in which an officer allegedly extorted another person.

Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan said he had strictly emphasised to his subordinates not to become involved in extortion, or they would face both disciplinary and legal action.

National police chief Chaktip Chaijinda confirmed that both disciplinary and legal action would be taken against people who break the law, regardless of their profession

Five soldiers, police officer arrested in extortion case | Bangkok Post: news

Ex-soldier surrenders, denies role in Bt2m extortion
By KORNKAMOL AKSORNDEJ


A FORMER soldier turned himself to police on Tuesday to deny allegations that he had joined other men in extorting Bt2 million from a Chinese businessman.

Thitikorn Chuen-ura, 38, claimed he was not aware of the extortion, adding that he and his four subordinates thought they were providing security services for a client.

“I was paid Bt2,000 while my subordinates were paid just Bt1,500 each,” he said.

He identified his client as Utis Korkaew, whom he had met one or two months ago.

“Utis told me he wanted to get a businessman to meet Maj-General Charoon [Ampa]. We were there just as his security escort,” Thitikorn said.

The Chinese owner of Kanta Group Thailand Co Ltd, known as Surachai sae Yang, lodged a complaint with authorities alleging that a gang of men had raided his Bangkok firm on July 14, brought him to a meeting with Charoon and then forced him to pay Bt2 million in protection money.

Charoon works at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.

Thitikorn said he had not understood the topic of his client’s meeting because it was conducted in English.

He said after receiving payment for the so-called security escort, he headed to Songkhla to attend the funeral of a relative.

“Later, I heard that my subordinates had had problems. I contacted Utis to help clear up the problems. But after two phone calls, I could not reach him again,” Thitikorn said.

A source said Thitikorn had also claimed to have provided security services at concerts and temple fairs.

Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpan, who heads the police’s Patrol and Special Operation Division, said Utis had already contacted police to surrender. “But even if he does not surrender, we will hunt him down,” he said.

Last week, police arrested eight suspects including Charoon. Utis is now the only suspect on the run.

A source said Utis had told police he would turn himself in at 4pm today.

Ex-soldier surrenders, denies role in Bt2m extortion

Reform?