Pubdate: Sat, 02 Feb 2008
Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2008
Contact:  http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

CRIME EXTORTION AND ROBBERY

More Victims Of BPP Gang Come Forward

Five more people yesterday said they were innocent  victims of a gang 
of Border Patrol Police (BPP)  officers led by Nat Chonnithiwanit, 
claiming the gang  forced them to make false confessions to drug 
charges  and extorted money from them. The gang is 
facing  prosecution for allegedly extorting money from their  victims 
and torturing them into confessing to drug  trafficking charges.

Chaiwiwat Bunkua, a 33-year-old from Phuket, lodged a  complaint with 
Crime Suppression police yesterday,  saying Pol Capt Nat's gang had 
physically assaulted and  detained him and his two friends in September 2006.

Mr Chaiwiwat claimed the gang arrested him along with  his friends 
Sirithep Mingpicharn, 33, and Rewat  Rongmuang, 22, on Sept 12, 2006, 
in Phangnga province,  accusing them of trafficking methamphetamines. 
Mr  Chaiwiwat said he and his friends had never been  involved with drugs.

He claimed the three were taken to a hotel where they  were beaten 
and tortured until they agreed to make  false confessions that they 
had metham-phetamine pills  for sale.

Their trial on charges of trafficking methamphetamines  is still 
before the courts.

Mr Chaiwiwat said he once filed a complaint against the  gang at 
Phuket police station after the incident, but  no action was taken.

Nukul Ruangjui, 44, and his wife Somsi Yos-in, 45, from  Kanchanaburi 
have also filed a complaint with Surajit  Klai-udom, the deputy 
superintendent of the 41st BPP  unit and Pol Capt Nat's supervisor, 
accusing him of  malfeasance, unlawful detention and robbery.

Mr Nukul alleged Pol Lt-Col Surajit and his associates  beat up his 
son and his son's friend on August 3 last  year and forced them to 
confess that they had 1,182  methamphetamine pills for sale.

Two other people filing similar charges against Pol  Capt Nat's gang 
with Crime Suppression Division police  yesterday were named as 
Chokdee Thong-o, 32 from Krabi,  and Jamnong Rungruangma, 50, from 
Songkhla. Ms Jamnong  said she paid extortion money to the gang and 
was still  charged.

In Chumphon, another drug suspect on bail, Somchai  Baengbun, 25, 
lodged a similar complaint against the  gang.
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