The Songkhla Provincial Court has issued warrants for the arrests of three men accused of convincing a man, who owed money to an online gambling platform, to swallow a live bullet and then assaulting him.
According to Songkhla police, two of the suspects, identified as Rapeepong Sawatchukaew and Chakrapong Thepchum, worked for Siradanai Plaiduang, a Songkhla provincial councillor currently held in detention on charges of assaulting a police officer at a polling station in Muang district on May 12th.
The bullet incident took place on the night of December 11th last year, in the victim’s home, 29-year-old “Klam”, in Hat Yai district. The three suspects and several others broke into the house to demand the repayment of a 50,000 baht debt, allegedly incurred through online football gambling.
Klam fled from the house before the arrival of the gang, but they forced him to return by threatening to harm his wife.
The victim told Hat Yai police that he was punched in the face by one of the gang upon his arrival at the house, adding that he was persuaded to swallow a bullet by Rapeepong, who promised that his debt would be reduced to 30,000 baht if he agreed to do so.
He also said he was beaten up by the gang, after having swallowed the bullet, adding that his debt was not reduced as promised. He also alleges that the gang stole two motorcycles and about 10,000 baht in cash, supposedly as surety for the repayment of the debt.
Footage of Klam swallowing the bullet was subsequently posted on social media, in an apparent effort to ridicule the local police.
Pol Col Sakda Charoenkloom, the deputy commander of the Region 9 Provincial Police Bureau, said that the three suspects will be charged with assault, coercion, illegal detention, violations of the Firearms Act and, possibly, criminal association.
