Another police officer surrendered in the case of extortion from Chinese citizens in Sa Kaeo

Another police officer has surrendered in connection with the extortion case involving five Chinese nationals, following the arrest of four officers and one civilian last week. Immigration officers from Sa Kaeo province and Wang Sombun Police Station raided a house in the province on May 16 after receiving complaints from Chinese nationals claiming they were being held and extorted. The five Chinese nationals stated that the suspects demanded 300,000 baht from each of them in exchange for their release. Investigators reported that the Chinese nationals were initially detained for illegal entry into Thailand. However, instead of being handed over for legal proceedings, they were held on private property. At the scene, police arrested four officers, identified as Police Senior Sergeants Paphavin, Wuttikorn, Somchai, and Phichat, along with a civilian suspect named Nattanan. The Chinese nationals informed the police that another officer involved in the operation was absent during the raid, as he had gone to get food and drinks. Yesterday, May 21, the remaining suspect, identified as Police Captain Prayoon, surrendered at Wang Sombun Police Station. Police confirmed that all officers involved in the case have been temporarily suspended from duty pending investigation. Channel 7 later reported that the arrested officers, who initially denied the accusations, eventually confessed to their guilt. The suspects have been charged with offenses related to illegal detention and abuse of power. These crimes carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to 400,000 baht. The Chinese Embassy in Thailand also issued a statement regarding the incident, urging the Thai police to conduct a fair and transparent investigation. The embassy further called on Thai authorities to strengthen law enforcement measures to protect the safety and property of Chinese visitors in Thailand. Chinese citizens in Thailand were also advised to abide by local laws and exercise caution regarding personal safety and property. For readers: Always carry copies of your documents and immediately report any issues with law enforcement to your country's embassy or consulate.