On 22 Aug, Pol. Lt. Col. Suphachat received a complaint from Brit national Marc True, 23, who claimed that 2 policemen had planted Ganja on him and wanted him to pay 25,000 baht to drop all charges.

Marc was walking along the beach with his Thai girlfriend, Miss Urai 19, at 2 o’clock in the morning when they were approached by 2 policemen (they said they were) who ordered a ‘body search’. One of the policeman claimed he found a bag of Ganja in Marc’s possession. Marc later told police that he was completely shocked as he had never done drugs. The policemen then threatened to escort him to the police station to face criminal charges.

In the meantime however, the policemen advised Marc that they would drop all charges if he handed over 25,000baht to the policemen the next day at 11 o’clock at a hotel room.

It was before 11 o’clock however that Marc went directly to the Pattaya Police Station himself and explained the matter to the Pol. Lt Col. Straight away, the police chief handed Marc the sum needed in an envelope (all the noted had been photocopied for evidence) to give to the policemen.

The pair were arrested immediately after Marc had handed over the money.

Un-commissioned police officer Sargaent Napasakorn confessed to the crime and told police that he had committed exactly the same crime on several occasions before. He told police that his foreign victims before, had been very scared and agreed to pay the sum wanted. As for the other criminal Mr Surachet, he is also facing extra charges of impersonating a police officer.

Sargaent Napasakorn is to be fired from the police force and charged immediately.

Translated from a story that appeared in the Daily News 23/8/2006

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