A Thai man, identified as Worapon, has surrendered to Pattaya Police in connection with an extortion case where two police officers allegedly demanded 700,000 baht from a group of Chinese tourists. Despite turning himself in, Worapon denies all charges against him.
Worapon arrived at Nongprue Police Station on Tuesday, July 30th, where he was questioned by Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Somchok Fakphairoj. Accompanied by his lawyer, Worapon remained composed and declined to answer questions from reporters. His lawyer stated that Worapon voluntarily surrendered to prove his innocence, claiming that he was merely present in the vehicle used during the incident and had no active role in the alleged extortion.
The extortion case centers around two police officers accused of extorting the Chinese tourists. The officers face multiple charges, including abuse of power, misconduct, coercion, and illegal detention. Both officers have denied the allegations and were released on bail after posting 400,000 baht each. Legal proceedings are ongoing.
In addition to Worapon, police are seeking two more suspects involved in the case. Worapon faces four charges: aiding the officers’ misconduct, supporting their criminal activities or dereliction of duty, coercion, and illegal detention.
The extortion incident, which took place on July 10th on a motorway en route to Pattaya, was brought to light after a representative of a travel agency sought justice for their Chinese clients. Dashcam footage depicting the incident was shared with the public, showing a group of alleged police officers stopping the Chinese tourists, checking their passports and documents, and then demanding 700,000 baht.
One police officer, 30-year-old Police Sergeant Thitiwat, was the first to be apprehended in connection with the case. He admitted to being present at the scene but denied involvement in the extortion, claiming he was unaware of what occurred inside the car. Another officer, 54-year-old Police Sub-Lieutenant Praderm, turned himself in on July 23rd, also denying the allegations and refusing to speak to reporters.
The Pattaya Provincial Court has issued arrest warrants for three more suspects who are not police officers, including 40-year-old Worraphan, 48-year-old Wachira, and 33-year-old Kamon. The two vehicles involved in the incident, a white Toyota Fortuner and a black Ford Everest, have been seized for further investigation.
The Chinese tourists who were victims of the extortion initially avoided contact with the police because they had entered Thailand illegally. They were later found at a condominium in Chon Buri and confessed to fleeing China to Laos in December of the previous year before entering Thailand. They are expected to be released after providing useful information about the extortion case.
The incident has drawn significant attention, especially following a similar case in January of the previous year, when Taiwanese actress An Yu-Qing exposed corrupt Thai police officers who extorted money from her and her friends. That exposure led to the imprisonment of several officers involved in the extortion. creditTPN
