Three cops face probe for alleged extortion

Three police officers from Provincial Police Region 8 are being probed after they were alleged to have made attempts to extort money from villagers in Surat Thani.

Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen, the deputy police spokeswoman, told the media on Thursday that the officers — who claimed they came to a village in tambon Thung Kong in Kanchanadit district to investigate illegal fishing — were accused on Wednesday of extorting money from fishermen and will now face a disciplinary probe.

He said the officers were encircled by 300 villagers after they heard of their antics.

When Pongsak Chakaew, former subdistrict chief of Thung Kong, came to mediate, the villagers released them but told them not to return again.