Warrants have been issued, by Songkhla Provincial Court, for the arrests of Rattaphum district’s assistant chief and five defence volunteers, for allegedly demanding bribes from the relatives of a drug suspect being held in custody.
An investigation into the conduct of the officials was launched by police in Songkhla, after the suspect claimed that they had demanded one million baht in cash, 200,000 methamphetamine tablets or 10kgs of crystal meth (Ice) from his relatives in exchange for his release.
A source close to the investigation said that the investigators discovered the attempted extortion through analysis of the assistant district chief’s cell phone, which was used to negotiate with the suspect’s relatives.
The source went on to say that the six officials allegedly falsely claimed that they were attacked by a group of men, believed to be members of a drug trafficking gang, as they were escorting the detained suspect to a village in Rattaphum district on the night of October 18th, supposedly to search for more meth pills hidden in one of the houses there.
The group also claimed that the attackers had robbed them of their six service pistols, four mobile phones, 20,000 meth tablets and the car belonging to the assistant district chief.
The suspect in question remains in custody.
