Eight people to be freed from jail as 'victims' lodge more reports
Published on February 1, 2008
Victims of the rogue "Border Patrol gang" can lodge complaints with local police wherever they live, and don't have to see Bang Phlat police, where 13 ring members were first arrested last week, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said yesterday.
He estimated the gang, led by Border Police Captain Nat Chonnitiwanich, had made at least Bt10 million out through extortions and kidnappings, from more than 20 known victims. Police have seized several vehicles they stole from the victims.
Corrections Department spokesman Wanchai Rujjana-wong said there were now eight inmates in different prisons set to be released, after new evidence showed they were falsely convicted as a result of Nat's illegal arrests.
Prisons are checking how many inmates are linked to the rogue gang.
Apart from Nat, other officers arrested include Sgt-Major Chawalit Sumon and Sgt-Major Manop Sukkhongmit; Lance-Corporals Arkom Sudjai, Akradej Kotchakrit, Chatree Pankunrung and Rungroj Kretju and Corporal Neramit Jatumit. Two civilians have also been detained.
Pol Sr Sgt Major Prasarn Sornthawee was yesterday identified as a ring member after certain victims were shown a personnel record.
Pol Lt Colonel Surakit Khlai-udom, a deputy chief of the Border Police, 41, to whom Nat was assigned, is the most senior suspect known up to date.
A couple and a lawyer yesterday filed a complaint on behalf of Rawiwan Bunlert and Somjai Lomjan, who were jailed in a Ratchaburi prison following an alleged bogus arrest by Nat's team in August last year. Sukij Phoonsrikasem, the lawyer, revealed details of the arrest, naming Pol Captain Chaiyarat Jankate as a possible suspect.
Sukij alleged that Chaiyarat led the raid and planted 1,198 amphetamine tablets on the two women. While taking them away to a safe house in a van, Chaiyarat was kicked out of the vehicle by Rawiwan after he allegedly tried to molest her - and is still in coma today.
Nat's team later stated in the arrest record that Chaiyarat was hit accidentally by a vehicle while performing his duty. Nat's team later sent the two women to Ban Pong police after they could not pay the Bt1.3 million the gang had demanded. Rawiwan was also convicted for obstructing justice, and for kicking Chaiyarat out of the vehicle, the lawyer said.
There is no official information as to how many victims have so far fallen prey to Nat's gang, as more and more people filed complaints with police, claiming they are victims.
But Surat Thani police showed Nat's arrest record in that province alone was 39 between August and December last year. It is not known if the arrests were done lawfully.
Supachoke Janphaet, 21, filed a complaint with Surat Thani police saying he was framed by the gang late last year when he was a monk. After telling him to leave the monkhood during a Buddhist ritual, he said Nat initially told him to work as a buyer in future police stings. He claims he was forced to sign a confession that he possessed 5 amphetamine tablets, after he refused to comply.
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Published on February 1, 2008
Victims of the rogue "Border Patrol gang" can lodge complaints with local police wherever they live, and don't have to see Bang Phlat police, where 13 ring members were first arrested last week, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said yesterday.
He estimated the gang, led by Border Police Captain Nat Chonnitiwanich, had made at least Bt10 million out through extortions and kidnappings, from more than 20 known victims. Police have seized several vehicles they stole from the victims.
Corrections Department spokesman Wanchai Rujjana-wong said there were now eight inmates in different prisons set to be released, after new evidence showed they were falsely convicted as a result of Nat's illegal arrests.
Prisons are checking how many inmates are linked to the rogue gang.
Apart from Nat, other officers arrested include Sgt-Major Chawalit Sumon and Sgt-Major Manop Sukkhongmit; Lance-Corporals Arkom Sudjai, Akradej Kotchakrit, Chatree Pankunrung and Rungroj Kretju and Corporal Neramit Jatumit. Two civilians have also been detained.
Pol Sr Sgt Major Prasarn Sornthawee was yesterday identified as a ring member after certain victims were shown a personnel record.
Pol Lt Colonel Surakit Khlai-udom, a deputy chief of the Border Police, 41, to whom Nat was assigned, is the most senior suspect known up to date.
A couple and a lawyer yesterday filed a complaint on behalf of Rawiwan Bunlert and Somjai Lomjan, who were jailed in a Ratchaburi prison following an alleged bogus arrest by Nat's team in August last year. Sukij Phoonsrikasem, the lawyer, revealed details of the arrest, naming Pol Captain Chaiyarat Jankate as a possible suspect.
Sukij alleged that Chaiyarat led the raid and planted 1,198 amphetamine tablets on the two women. While taking them away to a safe house in a van, Chaiyarat was kicked out of the vehicle by Rawiwan after he allegedly tried to molest her - and is still in coma today.
Nat's team later stated in the arrest record that Chaiyarat was hit accidentally by a vehicle while performing his duty. Nat's team later sent the two women to Ban Pong police after they could not pay the Bt1.3 million the gang had demanded. Rawiwan was also convicted for obstructing justice, and for kicking Chaiyarat out of the vehicle, the lawyer said.
There is no official information as to how many victims have so far fallen prey to Nat's gang, as more and more people filed complaints with police, claiming they are victims.
But Surat Thani police showed Nat's arrest record in that province alone was 39 between August and December last year. It is not known if the arrests were done lawfully.
Supachoke Janphaet, 21, filed a complaint with Surat Thani police saying he was framed by the gang late last year when he was a monk. After telling him to leave the monkhood during a Buddhist ritual, he said Nat initially told him to work as a buyer in future police stings. He claims he was forced to sign a confession that he possessed 5 amphetamine tablets, after he refused to comply.
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