Cops booked for extorting Taiwan star

Six policemen at Huai Khwang station who have been charged with taking bribes in connection with the alleged extortion of a Taiwanese actress and her friends were indicted by the prosecutor yesterday, said Kosolwat Inthujanyong, a deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG).

The former officers were indicted yesterday after the prosecutors received a report from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) about the case.

They are Pol Capt Yodrit Langdulsen, former deputy inspector for crime suppression; Pol Capt Patiphan Sirichaiwatana, former deputy inspector for general administration; Pol Snr Sgt Maj Krisada Khammana; Pol Sgt Chalermchai Siriwangso; Pol Sgt Wacharanont Khaoyong; and Pol Sgt Nanthawat Suwann.

The OAG agreed to the recommendation to press charges for bribery and abuse of power. The warrant also ordered the seizure of 27,000 baht in bribe money, which would become a national asset.

The suspects would have been handed life sentences and fined 100,000 to 400,000 baht if they had led guilty, said Mr Kosolwat.

The bribery charge came after a Singaporean man told reporters that he paid 27,000 baht to the officers at a checkpoint on Jan 3 to prevent them from arresting the group, which included Taiwanese actress Charlene An.

An also posted details of the alleged extortion on the Thai Facebook page “Ni Hao Taiwan, Chan Ma Laew” (Hello Taiwan, I’m Here) later in January, sparking much criticism and legal involvement from many agencies, including message parlour tycoon turned whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit, and leading to the charges against the six officers.