A son-in-law of Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised, who was assigned to suppress influential people nationwide, was arrested in Uthai Thani province on Tuesday morning for allegedly extorting money from a tap water contractor.
The prime suspect, identified as 45-year-old Weerachart Rasamee, the mayor of Talukdoo municipality and son-in-law of Mr Chada, was arrested at a house in tambon Talukdoo in Thap Than district.
His two subordinates were arrested at the municipal office. They were Thanapat Dulyathikan, 47, assistant mayor, and Kulathat Samakkhee, 23, assistant civil works chief of the municipal office.
Two other suspects were caught with 600,000 baht in cash at a branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Muang district of this province. The men, Manop Tittimanop, 51, and Yingyong Khachachan, 30, were allegedly there to receive the cash from the extorted contractor.
All the suspects denied the charges.
Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Parnkaew, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, said on Tuesday night that he called Deputy Interior Minister Chada to discuss the arrest. Mr Chada told him that authorities could take legal action and that he had earlier warned influential people to cease their criminal activities.
The deputy interior minister has been assigned to suppress influential people nationwide.
Bhumjaithai Party member Chada Thaisaed displays his parliamentary member card to the public at the parliament. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)
Pol Col Prasong Chaloempan, deputy commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, said Mr Weerachart ordered the extortion, Mr Thanapat and Mr Kulathat negotiated with the victim, and Mr Manop and Mr Yingyong were assigned to receive the cash.
In September, the gang allegedly demanded 1 million baht from the contractor who had won a contract to build two tap water systems based on groundwater for Talukdoo in Thap Than and tambon Hat Thanong of Muang district.
This year the contractor won the project despite threats to withdraw from its electronic bidding contest.
The contractor was subsequently unable to purchase construction materials from any local suppliers. He was then demanded to pay 1 million baht for a green light. The victim asked for a decrease to 600,000 baht and scheduled the payment for Tuesday morning when a sting operation was organised.
Weerachart Rasamee (Photo: Talukdoo municipality's Facebook)