Crypto Corruption Exposed: Thailand Police Gang Arrested For $165K Extortion

“Police are inevitably corrupted.” A quote from Frank Herbert’s novel God Emperor of Dune may hold true in the case of a group of cops in Thailand who allegedly prey on foreign nationals to extort money. A Chinese-Vanuatu expat who filed a complaint at Thailand’s law enforcement agency said that the extortionist cops coerced him to give the police officers cryptocurrencies worth at least $165,000.

Thailand: 7 Corrupt Cops Arrested

The Thai authorities on Wednesday announced that they have arrested seven suspects involved in extorting digital currency from Sai.

The arrested police officers were Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanachai, Police Captain Amnuay, Police Senior Sergeant Major Chayaphon, Police Senior Sergeant Major Pornthep, Police Senior Sergeant Major Manaswee, and Police Senior Sergeant Major Siam.

Reports said that Sai, a man with Chinese lineage and Vanuatu citizenship, was staying in Thailand with his family as an expatriate when the incident happened.

Thai authorities also said that three other cops involved in the offense surrendered on October 28, namely: Police Captain Thanakrit, Police Senior Sergeant Major Suphan, and Police Sergeant, while two suspects who served as interpreters during the crime, Ms. Aphatsara and Mr. Yun, remain at large.

The corrupt police gang demanded 300 million baht or 10 million USDT to drop the case. #thailand #corruptpolice https://t.co/7CR6tMdWfW

— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) November 1, 2024

Unauthorized Search

Sai recounted that a group of individuals who claimed to be Thai police officers visited their home in Bang Phli Yai, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, saying that the cops showed him what appeared to be a search warrant allegedly issued by the Samut Prakan Provincial Court.

Sai admitted that he failed to verify the content of the document since he or any other member of his household could read the Thai language. He added that the only thing that made him think the document was authenticated was the government seal hence, he allowed the cops to search the house.

The suspects used two interpreters to communicate with the family, claiming that a Filipino told them that Sai was involved in a fake passport case lodged at the South Bangkok Criminal Court.

Sai said that police officers seized their mobile phones and a computer while threatening to charge them with illegal employment of foreign housekeepers.

According to Sai’s testimony, the rogue cops offered him to drop the case if he would pay 10 million USDT or the equivalent of 300 million Thai baht, saying that he refused their offer because he believed that he was innocent and did not have that much Thai money with him.

Consequently, the police took him and his household to the Government Complex Building B wherein the bandit cops lowered their demand to 10 million baht which he did not agree to.

Sai said that he was brought into the interrogation room wherein he submitted to their demand of $165,000 or 5.6 million Thai baht, adding that he transferred 149,253 USDT to the digital wallet of one of the interpreters, Aphatsara, so his family could be set free.

Several days later, Sai said he sent another 20,895 USDT after the corrupt police officers demanded him to give 700,000 Thai baht to learn who reported him to the cops.

Report The Incident To The Authorities

Sai decided to hire a lawyer to investigate the incident which uncovered that the criminal charges were fraud. He reported the incident to the Bang Sue Police Station which led to a manhunt operation against the 12 suspects involved in the extortion.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView