The chairman of the Bang Pla tambon administrative organisation (TAO) in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district and his secretary were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly demanding and taking a 2.3-million-baht bribe from a local firm
Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) police made the arrests after receiving a complaint from the firm in tambon Bang Pla that the bribe had been demanded by two high-level TAO officials in exchange for a land excavation and landfill permit.
Normally, the fee for a landfill permit is only 500 baht.
The firm had asked for the amount to be reduced to 2.3 million baht, which was agreed upon.
Armed with a video clip of the TAO officials demanding the money, the firm later filed a complaint with the ACD police.
After an investigation, the ACD sought arrest warrants from the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, Region 1.
At about 11am on Wednesday, Chanin Ruenroeng, 61, the Bang Pla TAO chairman, and his personal secretary, who was only identified as Pornmanee, 44, were arrested at their office.
They were charged with illegally demanding and taking a bribe.
In a search of their office, police found 2,271,427 baht in cash and a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition.
Mr Chanin denied the charges.