Police Arrest 4 Rogue Officers Holding 5 Chinese Nationals, Extorting 300,000 Baht Per Person for Release
Corrupt police officers and a civilian were arrested for illegally detaining five Chinese nationals and extorting 300,000 baht per person for their release in Sakaeo Province on May 16.
On May 17, 2025, Police Colonel Wisaka Petchkasem, commander of Wang Sombun Police Station in Sakaeo Province, announced the arrest of four officers and one civilian on charges of unlawful detention, extortion, and abuse of authority. The suspects were apprehended at 2:30 p.m. on May 16 at a house in Wang Som Boon district: two officers from the Traffic Police Division, two from Khlong Had Police Station in Sakaeo, one from Ban Phlang Police Station in Chanthaburi, and a 41-year-old civilian from Nakhon Sawan Province. Police recovered six items including four firearms, 24 ammunition rounds, and two pickup trucks.
The suspects allegedly unlawfully detained five Chinese nationals starting at 2:00 a.m. on May 16, placing handcuffs on them and coercing them to transfer $10,000 (approximately 300,000 baht) each for their release. Two of the victims paid 2,000 dollars each, totaling about 60,000 baht, with evidence shown through bank transfer receipts. Officers discovered the situation after receiving a distress call via Line from an official at Pathum Thani airport assistance unit. The victims appeared relieved when authorities arrived at the house, where police found all five detainees waiting outside.
