The superintendent of Huai Khwang police has been abruptly transferred to the Metropolitan Police Bureau following an allegation that some of his men extorted 27,000 baht from a Taiwanese actress, in exchange for letting her off after being found in possession of an electronic cigarette.
Royal Thai Police Spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Archayon Kraithong said today (Monday) that, to set an example, Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, the national police chief, ordered the commissioner of Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), Pol Lt-Gen Thiti Sangsawang, to transfer the Huai Khwang police chief, Pol Col Yingyos Suwanno, as a matter of urgency and to set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the conduct of the police officers against whom the allegation of extortion has been made.
He said that Pol Gen Damrongsak also reminded all policeofficers manning road checkpoints in Bangkok to comply strictly with the official guidelines, maintain transparency and refrain from demanding bribes.
The 27,000 baht, in cash, is reported to have been given to the police by the actress’s Singaporean boyfriend and was then divided between the police manning the checkpoint in front of the Chinese Embassy in Huai Khwang district. The actress was released without charge.
