Pol Maj Sorawit Inlab : “Thai Police Sentenced: 15 Years for B10m Extortion”

Five Immigration Officers Sentenced to 15 Years in Jail

Five immigration officers have been sentenced to 15 years in jail for extorting 10 million baht worth of cryptocurrency from a Chinese businessman found in illegal possession of a Thai ID card in March last year. The sentence was handed down by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.

Thai Man Leads Arrest of Chinese Businessman

The case began when a Thai man, identified as Surachai Pattanachaicharoen, led five immigration policemen to apprehend a Chinese businessman who was discovered to be illegally holding a Thai ID card. The incident took place in March of the previous year.

Identification of the Guilty Officers

The five officers from Immigration Division 1 involved in the extortion case 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.

Co-Conspirator Receives 10-Year Jail Sentence

In addition to the immigration officers, the Thai man who led the group, Surachai Pattanachaicharoen, was also found guilty. He received a 10-year jail sentence.

The Abduction of the Chinese National and Interpreter

The five policemen abducted the Chinese national, referred to as Xi, and his Thai interpreter, Namee Sae Lee, 38, from a house on Pracha Songkroh 2 Road in Din Daeng district on March 10 of the previous year.

Demand for Cryptocurrency in Exchange for Freedom

Instead of taking the Chinese man to the Immigration Bureau, the officers took him to different locations and demanded that he pay 10 million baht worth of cryptocurrency in exchange for his freedom.

Interpreter Files Complaint with Police

Ms Namee, the interpreter, filed a complaint with Din Daeng police station on March 20, 2023, detailing the incident and the extortion attempt.