Deputy District Chief Arrested For Extorting 6,000 Baht In Gun Transfer Fee
A deputy district chief in Saraburi province was arrested for extorting 6,000 baht from a man seeking to transfer inherited firearms, with undercover officers documenting the illegal payment in May.
On July 3, 2025, officers from the Anti-Corruption Division and the Office of the Ombudsman conducted a raid at a district office in Saraburi province, arresting a 43-year-old deputy district chief named Mr. Prin (surname withheld) on charges of demanding and accepting improper payments as a government official. The arrest took place at the district office.
The case stems from January 2025, when the victim sought to transfer two inherited firearms registered to his late mother at the district office. During the process, the deputy district chief demanded 10,000 baht in alleged processing fees, later reducing it to 5,000 baht while claiming an additional 1,000 baht was needed for a license fee under law.
The victim questioned whether the charges were legitimate and filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, offering full cooperation with authorities. On May 26, 2025, undercover officers recorded a conversation and monitored a transaction in which the victim handed over 6,000 baht to the suspect. The evidence was subsequently submitted to investigators.
After reviewing the evidence, investigators determined there were sufficient grounds to believe the suspect had committed the offense and issued an arrest warrant due to concerns he might tamper with evidence or obstruct the investigation.
