Family appeals to media: Son with brain condition lured into hi-lo gambling by police officer, loses over 100,000 baht
A police sergeant in Phatthalung is accused of luring a 20-year-old man with a brain condition into high-stakes gambling, resulting in over 100,000 baht in losses and threats when the family sought help.
From Phatthalung province, 46-year-old Yupaporn and 53-year-old Thanasak filed a complaint with media, alleging that their son, 20-year-old Pirasak, was lured into hi-lo gambling by Police Sergeant Dap, assigned to Provincial Police Region 9 Investigation Unit. The officer allegedly intended to take money and the son's gold necklace. Yupaporn explained that her son has a chronic brain condition requiring continuous medication. On the night of the incident, her son called saying he lost at hi-lo and had no money left. The police officer holding the game kept his 2-baht gold necklace. When the mother went to retrieve it, the officer demanded 50,000 baht to return it, but then insisted on 100,000 baht as the borrowed amount.
The officer, claiming his police status gave him immunity, threatened to shoot and file trespassing charges if they didn't comply. The family reluctantly transferred 49,000 baht to an account belonging to the officer's relative instead of the officer himself, with the remainder to be paid later. When tensions escalated and the father called the police, the officer quickly ordered relatives to remove the gambling equipment before traffic police arrived. When uniformed officers showed up, the officer falsely claimed it was just a argument, not gambling. However, the mother showed video evidence sent by her son, causing the officer to go silent.
Pirasak recounted that the officer had frequently invited him to play hi-lo at his home before this incident. On that day, despite initially losing small amounts, the officer called him nearly 20 times to come play. With 20,000 baht in his pocket, he came over and lost it all. The officer then offered him a loan, first 10,000 baht, then suggested pawning his necklace for 100,000 baht in betting chips at 5,000 baht per round plus 100 baht commission. Desperate to recover his losses, he agreed, but lost the entire 100,000 baht in just 15 minutes, prompting him to call his mother for help.
