CHON BURI: A senior sergeant major in the police force has been transferred to an inactive post pending an investigation after he was alleged to have demanded 60,000 baht from a foreign tourist for possession of an e-cigarette.
His transfer came in the wake of a news report and associated photos that aired on Channel 3 on Tuesday.
A Chinese tour guide was said to have sent a message to other guides in his group saying that a tourist under his care had been detained for possessing a vape by a policeman who demanded a fine of 60,000 baht. After some bargaining, the sum was reduced to 30,000 baht. Vaping devices are prohibited goods in Thailand.
The incident allegedly occurred in Pattaya around Jan 28.
After learning about the report, Pol Maj Gen Kampol Leelaprapakorn, the Chon Buri police superintendent, sent an urgent letter telling the chief of Pattaya police to investigate the matter.
The probe found the policeman referred to in the report was Pol Snr Sgt Maj Noppakrit Pornwatanathanakij, a traffic police officer at Pattaya station.
Pol Maj Gen Kampol on Tuesday transferred him outside Pattaya to assist with the operations centre at Chon Buri police headquarters.
A fact-finding committee has been set up to look into the alleged soliciting of a bribe. It was tasked with compiling all evidence, including examining recordings from surveillance cameras in the area where the alleged extortion occurred. Its report will be used for legal proceedings if there are grounds against the policeman.
Pol Snr Sgt Maj Noppakrit reported to the Chon Buri police chief yesterday, as ordered. In a phone interview, he denied extorting money from the Chinese tourist.
The director of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission Region 2, yesterday went to monitor the case at Pattaya police station.