The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have pressed four charges against seven officers including a station chief who allegedly killed a drug suspect while he was being interrogated in Nakhon Sawan in August.
The force was also expanding its investigation into a luxury car case involving the station chief.
Pol Gen Suchart Theerasawat, deputy commissioner of the RTP, said yesterday that the seven policemen from Muang Nakhon Sawan station were charged with malfeasance, abuse of authority, fatal torture and coercion.
The police will send their case report and the related charges to public prosecutors today, he said.
The seven officers are Pol Col Thitisan Utthanaphon, Pol Maj Rawirot Ditthong, Pol Capt Songyot Khlainak, Pol Lt Thoranin Matwanna, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Suphakon Nimchuen, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wisut Bunkhiew and Pol Lance/Corp Pawikon Khammarew.
Pol Gen Suchart said police were investigating Pol Col Thitisan's involvement in the seizure of about 400 smuggled vehicles, adding they had already found suspicious vehicle records and irregularities in the payment of rewards for the seizures.
The case involved many people including police, customs officials and people related to Pol Col Thitisan's business interests, the deputy national police chief said.
He said police have impounded about 130 million baht's worth of assets belonging to Pol Col Thitisan.
The assets included a mansion worth 57 million baht in Bang Chan sub-district, 24 vehicles worth 70 million baht, a 1.5-million-baht condominium and 18 guns worth 720,000 baht.
RTP commissioner, Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, said the police had yet to decide if Pol Col Thitisan would be sacked.
Former station superintendent Pol Col Thitisan -- also known as Joe Ferrari due to his extensive collection of cars -- and six other officers are accused of killing Chiraphong Thanapat, a 24-year-old drug suspect, while trying to extort money from him.