A Pattaya police officer accused of demanding 60,000 baht from a tourist for possession of an e-cigarette has been temporarily dismissed from the police service pending a serious disciplinary investigation.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Noppakrit Pornwatanathanakij, a traffic officer at Pattaya police station, was initially transferred to an inactive post on Feb 1 following a news report and pictures on  the "Hone Krasae" television programme aired on Channel 3 on Jan 31.

In the report, a Chinese tour guide was said to have sent a message to other guides in his group saying that a tourist under his care was detained for having an e-cigarette by a policeman who demanded a fine of 60,000 baht. After some bargaining, the sum was reduced to 30,000 baht. This allegedly happened in Pattaya on Jan 28 or 29.

A fact-finding committee found there was sufficient evidence of Pol Sen Sgt Maj Noppakrit having committed a serious breach of discipline.

Another committee was set up to conduct a serious disciplinary investigation against the officer.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Noppakrit was temporarily dismissed from the police service until the investigation ends.