1-8-2023 (BANGKOK) A disturbing case has come to light where an alleged victim reported that a police officer attempted to extort money from her to avoid pursuing a break-in case. Adding to the horror, the officer proposed a chilling deal: he offered to drop the case if she entered into an intimate relationship with him.
The unsettling incident occurred in October last year in Saraburi province. The victim’s car broke down late at night, and a seemingly helpful passerby offered to assist in pushing the vehicle. However, the situation quickly took a dark turn when the man diverted the car to a secluded area and confined the woman in a room at his house. Acting swiftly, the woman managed to escape and sought refuge at a neighbor’s home.
Upon filing a complaint at the police station about the incident, the victim found herself detained on improper break-in charges presented by the very man who had attempted to harm her. Despite the man later retracting his complaint, the police officer persisted in pursuing the case, asserting that it was a criminal matter that could not be withdrawn. Shockingly, the police captain demanded a sum of 100,000 baht (equivalent to US$2,917) as a bribe, promising not to press charges or forward the case to the public prosecutor. Unable to meet such an exorbitant demand, the victim negotiated down to paying 10,000 baht, according to Sanook reports.
Lawyer Kun Jom Palang, upon discovering the victim’s ordeal, took up her case. He revealed that the officer in question had a history of attempting to gain improper advantages in the past. Such recurring misconduct necessitated addressing the allegations with utmost fairness.
Deputy National Police Chief, Police Lieutenant General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, pledged a thorough examination of the presented evidence and the victim’s testimony to determine if the officer in question could be charged with dereliction of duty under Article 157.
In response to this troubling incident, Police Lieutenant General Surachate advised the public to remain vigilant if approached by police officers offering assistance in legal matters. He urged people to immediately contact the respective officer’s supervisor in such situations. Above all, he emphasized that no one should ever transfer money to an officer under any circumstances.
