A former bit part TV actor and two alleged accomplices have been arrested on charges of posing as drug suppression police and handcuffing the owner and illegally searching a shophouse in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district.
Weerachai Sriwanik, aka Nor Wannukkul, 38, Siwat Lamsri, 36; and Narongrit Thongpan, 30, surrendered on Thursday night to Sai Mai police.
They were named on arrest warrants issued on charges of colluding in an illegal raid on a shophouse, impersonating state officials, and illegal detention. The trio were escorted by their lawyer, Thai media reported.
Around 7pm on Nov 28, three men claiming to be drugs police raided the shophouse of Nattapong Jitsaguan and accused him of involvement in the illicit drug trade and money laundering. They handcuffed him and searched the building.
But when Mr Nattapong’s father arrived at the shop and told them he was a soldier, the trio immediately fled.
The raid was filmed by a security camera, and Mr Nattapong posted the video on his Facebook page, inviting people to share it. The video went viral.
Three people were quickly named as being the people allegedly seen in the clip, and arrest warrants issued for Mr Weeracha and two other suspects.
The three men were refused police bail and were being held in a Sai Mai police station cell.
Weerachai earlier played supporting roles in the TV soap operas including Sao Noi Nai Takiang Kaew 2 (Little girl in the glass lantern, Episode 2) and Nam Tan Daeng 2 film (Brown Sugar 2).
Since vanishing from TV screens, he reportedly runs a family business offering security services.
clip by Nuttapong Jitsaguan