Late-Night Visit or Shakedown? Ubon Restaurant Owner Files Complaint After Alleged Fake-Police Extortion
It was the kind of 2 a.m. drama that makes for a bad thriller and a worse morning-after for a small business owner. In Mueang district, Ubon Ratchathani, restaurant owner Kritwit — 35 years old and reportedly alarmed by what happened at his eatery — has officially filed a complaint after a group claiming to be undercover police allegedly demanded cash to avoid shuttering the place.
According to the report submitted to Police Lieutenant Phakaphong Sueksakul, Deputy Inspector of the Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station, the incident unfolded in the early hours of August 18. A party of five men arrived at the restaurant after its official closing time. Although the kitchen had reportedly closed, a few familiar customers were lingering when the men confronted an employee named Siwakorn.
“Pay up or close down” — the alleged demand
The group, one of whom was identified only as “Jay,” allegedly accused the restaurant of selling alcohol past the legal hours. They demanded a fine of 20,000 baht (about US$615) and reportedly warned that failure to pay would lead to legal action and possible closure. In a claim that sounds straight out of a crime procedural, the men are said to have escorted Siwakorn to the police station’s investigation room and pressured him to withdraw the demanded amount in cash.
Jay allegedly told staff the order came from a superior and framed the cash payment as a way to avoid the more serious consequence of having the restaurant closed. Whether these men were bona fide officers or impersonators remains central to the case: Kritwit has accused them of extortion and asked authorities to pursue legal action against the five individuals and anyone else involved.
Damage beyond the money
Beyond the immediate financial hit and humiliation, the restaurant reportedly suffered significant damage from the incident. The story — initially reported by KhaoSod — paints a picture of a small business owner pushed to the breaking point and opting to go to the authorities rather than quietly pay or let the matter slide.
That decision to lodge a formal complaint matters. Allegations of impersonation and extortion by people claiming to be police strike at public trust and can devastate local businesses that rely on community goodwill. In response, Kritwit is seeking full accountability under the law — a move that could expose whether this was a rogue extortion ring, a misunderstanding, or something more systemic.
Not an isolated complaint
Ubon’s case isn’t happening in a vacuum. In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, frustration boiled over when the manager of Chop Charoen restaurant in Soi Mu Ban Chang Ayothaya publicly accused a police officer of demanding a monthly bribe of 1,000 baht to avoid inspections. That allegation, too, highlights a recurring theme: small businesses saying they are being bullied rather than protected.
When similar complaints surface in multiple provinces, they raise broader questions about how official power is exercised at the street level and how easy — or dangerous — it can be for business owners to resist what they say are unlawful demands.
What happens next
Kritwit’s complaint is now on record with the Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station. The next steps will be crucial: investigators will need to substantiate whether the men truly represented the police, whether any officers were involved, and if extortion occurred. If the accused are found to be impersonators, criminal charges for impersonation and extortion could follow. If actual officers are implicated, the case could lead to disciplinary action and criminal prosecution.
For now, the story is a reminder of the precarious balance small businesses must maintain — staying open late enough to serve customers while staying within the law, and protecting themselves against those who would exploit ambiguity for profit.
Why this matters
At its heart, this incident is about trust: trust between citizens and those sworn to protect them, and trust between neighborhood businesses and the communities they serve. When trust frays, the cost is more than money — it’s fear, reputation, and the quiet erosion of civic life.
Kritwit’s complaint has put the spotlight on Ubon Ratchathani’s local authorities to investigate transparently and swiftly. Whether this will lead to justice for the restaurant — and a stronger deterrent against future incidents — remains to be seen. Until then, restaurateurs across Thailand are watching, and many will be locking their doors a little earlier and counting their cash a little more carefully.
I filed the complaint early this morning because I couldn’t just pay and pretend nothing happened; we deserve protection, not threats.
This fits the pattern we’ve tracked for months — groups impersonating officers to extort cash from small venues during late hours.
If these were impersonators, how did they get away with walking someone to the police station’s investigation room? That part doesn’t add up.
Legally there should be records: detention logs, CCTV, and officer rosters. Investigators will need that chain of custody to determine whether actual officers were involved.
How many small places will quietly pay before someone takes a stand and makes this visible enough to force reform?
Too many. Fear and inconvenience make quiet payments the path of least resistance, and that perpetuates the problem.
Sounds like a classic shakedown; still, why was the restaurant open after hours? Owners should be careful of the rules they bend.
We had customers leaving; the kitchen had closed but people lingered — that shouldn’t justify being robbed or humiliated.
I want the truth exposed — if real officers did this, they must face consequences; if impostors did, they can’t be walking free.
I’m torn: either the police need reform or there are very convincing fakes out there; both are terrifying for business owners.
KhaoSod covered this first and posted photos; the images raise questions but aren’t definitive proof either way.
Photos mean nothing these days, everyone’s a photographer and a detective on Facebook.
As a neighbor, I support our officers but also want accountability. If this was real police misconduct it must be punished, no excuses.
The statute for impersonation and extortion is clear; victims should seek immediate forensics on transaction records and CCTV timestamps.
Whistleblower channels and independent audits are what will break these cycles; internal investigations often lack transparency.
Independent oversight must have subpoena power; otherwise reports sit in drawers and nothing changes.
Community pressure matters too — when three or four businesses band together, the authorities can’t ignore systemic complaints as easily.
From a legal perspective, both criminal and administrative tracks are possible; collecting incontrovertible evidence is the immediate priority.
Exactly — deposit the complaint, preserve CCTV footage, get statements notarized, and consider an independent attorney to liaise with investigators.
This reads like case law in the making; I hope prosecutors will prosecute without political interference.
Wow, that’s scary. Who would pretend to be a cop and take money like that?
Unfortunately, people who exploit power symbols like uniforms or badges can create fear that forces compliance.
I pay taxes; I expect the state to protect us. If fake cops are running extortion rings, that shows deep rot.
Not every complaint equals systemic rot; we must be careful not to demonize honest officers who risk their lives daily.
I’ve seen similar intimidation near markets; often it’s petty informal demands that become normalized until someone fights back.
Practical tip: any victim should request a formal written receipt of the complaint number and demand the preservation of all relevant evidence immediately.
We were given a case number and told the files would be kept; I appreciate the legal pointers and hope investigators act fast.
Media attention can force action, but it can also spin stories before facts are clear; we need balanced scrutiny.
Balanced? Nah, clicks drive headlines, and outrage sells better than nuance.
My cousin had a similar run-in and paid to avoid trouble; the shame stays with you even after the money is gone.
Shame and fear are tools of extortionists; breaking that cycle requires community solidarity and clear legal recourse.
Don’t paint all cops with the same brush; many officers are honest, but this case should be thoroughly investigated to clear names or hold culprits accountable.
Fair point, but institutional safeguards matter more than individual integrity because incentives can corrupt systems over time.
Agreed. Support good officers and purge the bad ones — both are necessary for public trust to heal.
This is also a civics lesson: small businesses need to know their rights and how to document abuses so complaints can stick.
Education campaigns on legal rights would help, but they must be paired with enforceable oversight mechanisms to deter wrongdoing.
If they were extorting, they picked the wrong place to mess with — public outrage travels fast these days and costs more than a bribe.