By Trend News Line 2024-02-12 20:20:38.
Five Immigration Officers Sentenced to 15 Years for Extorting Cryptocurrency from Chinese Businessman
In a landmark ruling, five immigration officers have been handed a 15-year prison sentence for extorting 10 million baht worth of cryptocurrency from a Chinese businessman found in illegal possession of a Thai ID card. The verdict was delivered by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
The case unfolded when a Thai man, Surachai Pattanachaicharoen, led five immigration policemen to apprehend the Chinese businessman, who was unlawfully holding a Thai ID card. The officers from Immigration Division 1 were identified as Pol Maj Sorawit Inlab, Pol Lt Suriya Rukkhachart, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Peerasak Yimpaiboon, Pol Lt Prawitpol Jangreed, and Pol Maj Jirapat Boonnam.
On March 10, 2023, the five officers abducted the Chinese national, known only as Xi, and his Thai interpreter, Namee Sae Lee, 38, from a residence in Din Daeng district. Instead of taking the Chinese man to the Immigration Bureau, they transported him to various undisclosed locations, where they demanded a ransom of 10 million baht worth of cryptocurrency in exchange for his release.
The ordeal came to light when the interpreter, Ms. Namee, bravely filed a complaint with the Din Daeng police station on March 20, 2023, exposing the unlawful actions of the immigration officers.
The severity of the charges led to the court ruling that the five officers should face 15 years in prison, while Surachai Pattanachaicharoen received a 10-year sentence for orchestrating the abduction. This landmark ruling sends a strong message that corruption and misconduct within law enforcement will not be tolerated in Thailand.
The case has highlighted the importance of upholding the integrity of the immigration system and ensuring that officers act lawfully and ethically. This incident serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of their position or authority.
The conviction of these immigration officers marks a significant step towards maintaining transparency and trust within the law enforcement agencies in Thailand, and it is hoped that this will act as a deterrent for future incidents of corruption.
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1. “Years’ jail for police who extorted from Chinese”
2. “Police sentenced to jail for extorting from Chinese”.
