Cops face extortion complaint

The Help Crime Victims Club has called on Provincial Police Region 1 to investigate Samut Prakan police for allegedly extorting money from a drug suspect in exchange for her freedom, according to club president Atchariya Ruangrattanapong.

Mr Atchariya and the woman, whose identity has been withheld, yesterday met Pol Lt Gen Amphon Buarapphon, commander of the police region, to ask him to set up a panel to look into the matter.

Mr Atchariya told police a dozen officers from Klon Dang police station in Samut Prakan raided the woman’s house last month without a search warrant.

The woman and her boyfriend were taken to the station where drug charges were pressed.

Mr Atchariya said the officers offered to drop the charges if the woman paid them 200,00 baht.

The woman bargained the amount down to 143,900 baht and gave them a motorcycle and laptop, he added.

Mr Atchariya said the officers agreed a deal and allowed the woman to return home, while her boyfriend was detained after police found 20 methamphetamine pills on him.

He said the woman previously did not say anything out of fear for her safety, but she decided to seek justice after learning about a similar case at Bang Phli police station in the same province.

Pol Lt Gen Amphon said he has set up an inquiry panel, adding an investigation into the matter has to wrap up within 30 days.

If the Klong Dan police officers are found guilty, the case will be forwarded to the National AntiCorruption Commission for further action.