Three Loan Sharks Surrender After Beating Debtor

Three illegal lenders surrendered to police after attacking a convenience store worker, admitting they acted in anger over a 8,000-baht loan with missed payments. On July 9, Nattapat, a 39-year-old convenience store employee, reported to Udon Thani City Police that he was attacked at a market in Nong Hai subdistrict, suffering facial swelling and bleeding from his mouth. Police called paramedics to treat his injuries before hospitalization.

At 11 a.m., the three suspects—39-year-old Rewat, 29-year-old Nattavut, and 34-year-old Chonachonyom—surrendered to Deputy Inspector Pichet Pakketati of Udon Thani City Police. They claimed Nattapat borrowed 8,000 baht, not 4,000 as alleged, and had repeatedly failed to pay. They said they drove past the market, spotted him, and confronted him about the outstanding debt, but he denied ever borrowing money, which provoked them to assault him with their bare hands.

Police revealed that Nattapat was a repeat customer who had refinanced his debt. Under the latest 8,000-baht agreement, he was supposed to pay 400 baht daily for 24 days, but only paid for 2-3 days before stopping for three months. They reduced his daily installment to 100 baht, which he still didn't pay. The suspects expressed remorse, apologized to the victim, and acknowledged they lost control due to his repeated defaults and denial of borrowing. They pledged to quit the illegal lending business and forgive the entire debt to resolve the matter.

Deputy Inspector Pichet stated that the Royal Thai Police are committed to cracking down on illegal lending and protecting citizens from loan shark intimidation and extortion. Charges of conducting unauthorized personal lending and charging illegal interest rates have been filed against all three suspects. The assault case is pending the victim's formal complaint filing. The victim remains hospitalized at Udon Thani Hospital undergoing treatment for nasal injuries and will pursue charges upon discharge.