One of the accused officers, Pol Sub-Lt Praderm Sarai, 54, then with the rank of police sergeant major, sings “ตำรวจจะมา (Police will come)”. (video capture from post by Police TV Facebook)
In a bizarre and riveting tale that seems to step right out of a crime thriller, two policemen and three civilians are now facing charges of extorting 700,000 baht from two illegal Chinese nationals on the motorway leading to Pattaya. The story has all the elements of a gripping drama — a talented singing policeman, a daring highway apprehension, and a courtroom waiting to see justice served.
The Pattaya Provincial Court on Tuesday gave the green light for arrest warrants against Pol Sgt Thitiwat Rujiwong, 30, of Provincial Police Region 2, and Pol Sub-Lt Praderm Sarai, 54, now a deputy inspector at the Central Investigation Bureau. The list of accusations reads like a laundry list of nefarious activities: abuse of authority, coercion, negligence causing damage, collusion, illegal detention, and more.
It’s worth noting that Pol Sub-Lt Praderm Sarai is known for his crooning skills, with a video titled “ตำรวจจะมา (Police will come)” making some waves on YouTube. However, Praderm’s musical antics may have drawn a larger audience than his professional conduct, which is now under severe scrutiny.
The officers were apprehended in Chon Buri on Tuesday. Pol Sgt Thitiwat was taken into custody in Muang district, while Pol Sub-Lt Praderm, perhaps ready to belt out a tune about surrender, turned himself in to Nong Prue police later that day. Both vehemently denied the charges and were each released on 400,000 baht bail.
The net didn’t stop tightening there. Arrest warrants were also issued for drei other men: Voraphon Kaensawat, 40, Vachira Bannakhon, 48, and Kamol Wangsee, 33, all accused of assisting officials in abusing their power, illegal detention, and related offenses. Police swooped in and seized two vehicles with Bangkok license plates from the suspects, specifically a Toyota Fortuner and a Ford Everest.
This convoluted caper traces back to July 10, when a group of men posing as policemen flagged down a rented car on a motorway towards Pattaya in Bang Lamung district. Inside were two Chinese nationals who would soon find themselves the prey in this extortionate chess game. According to allegations, the Chinese men were whisked away to a house and faced a steep demand for their release: 700,000 baht.
Soon, word of their troubling plight reached Pol Maj Gen Thirachai Chamnanmor, the sharp-eyed commander of Provincial Police Region 2, who immediately launched an investigation. Officers from Region 1 and Pattaya police soon located the two Chinese nationals, Jin Cui, 43, and Chen Wei, 44, in a condominium in the Jomtien area of Pattaya.
As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that Jin and Chen had a colorful backstory of their own. The duo had evaded arrest warrants in China for gambling offenses and had fled to Laos in December. From there, they made an illicit crossing over the Mekong River into Thailand’s Chiang Rai province. They were later picked up near the Chiang Rai airport, their final destination set to be Pattaya — though they certainly didn’t envision the twists their journey would take.
Ultimately, their car was intercepted just shy of the resort city’s welcoming gates, paving the way for the alleged extortion scheme to unravel. The arresting team subsequently handed Jin and Chen over to the Chon Buri immigration office where they were charged with illegal entry, facing imminent deportation back to China.
Both men were later brought to Nong Prue police station to spill the beans on their harrowing motorway heist, linking the accused directly to the 700,000 baht ruse. The courtroom drama is set to continue as the investigation digs deeper, pulling apart every thread of this fascinating and daunting escapade.
This is absolutely shocking! The police are supposed to protect us, but instead, they’re extorting people. Disgraceful!
It’s always like this. Every big story reveals another layer of corruption. The whole system needs an overhaul.
Overhaul is an understatement! The rot is so deep, it’s hard to trust anyone in power anymore.
Why are we surprised? Thailand’s police force has had corruption issues for years. This is just the latest scandal.
True, but the real scandal is how they keep getting away with it. For how long will this continue before real change happens?
It won’t change until people start demanding it more forcefully. We’ve seen protests before, but they need to be continuous and impactful.
The fact that one of these guys had a public singing career is just mind-blowing. It’s like a bad movie plot!
I feel bad for the Chinese nationals, but they were illegal immigrants too. It’s a complicated situation.
They were fleeing their own criminal charges. Not to justify what was done to them, but they’re not exactly innocent victims either.
Exactly. It’s like criminals preying on criminals. Still doesn’t excuse police abuse of power, though.
The whole story is wild from start to finish! What are the odds they’d get caught so dramatically?
Really disturbing story. How can anyone trust the police anymore?
You can’t trust the system, but there are still good people in it. It’s not black and white.
But the good people are consistently overshadowed by the bad apples. Can’t blame folks for losing faith.
I just think it’s hilarious that this guy was probably singing while getting caught. Karma’s a real thing!
It’s embarrassing for Thailand on the international stage. This kind of corruption hurts tourism and trust.
Exactly. Who would want to visit a place where you might get extorted by the police?
This story reads like a thriller novel. What’s next, a Netflix adaptation?
Seriously, they could make an entire series from this one incident alone. So much drama and intrigue.
I hope they throw the book at these corrupt officers. They need to make an example out of them.
Unfortunately, these things often end up brushed under the rug. Need real judicial reform.
Absolutely! If the courts don’t hold them accountable, what hope do we have for justice?
700,000 baht? That’s insane money. No wonder people risk everything to scam and extort.
What’s sad is that these two will probably get light sentences if convicted. The system always protects its own.
Exactly. Real change won’t happen until the punishments fit the crime. Too many slaps on the wrist.
Couldn’t agree more. Justice needs to be served harshly to deter future corruption.
What a mess! This whole situation is a failure of multiple systems, not just the police force.
Right on. Immigration, border security, law enforcement—all weeds in the same overgrown garden.
The entire ecosystem needs reform. Targeting just the police won’t change the larger issue.
that’s a good move from the government they must go after people like Francis Vanbellen who bribes Thai police to keep his case silent. he’s a fraud and criminal but not being arrested.
Beluthai commerce needs to be ashamed of itself to let people like him to be on board
Do you think these officers ever thought they’d get caught? Must be living in la-la land.
When you’re part of a corrupt system, you probably feel invincible. Reality check for them now.
So basically, the police caught other police doing what they often do? Ironic much?
It’s a dog-eat-dog world. Corruption exposing corruption. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.