Chaiyaphum: In a significant operation, the Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Mr. Phumiwisal Kasemsukh, announced the arrest of six suspects involved in a network that extorted money from online store owners by offering protection from arrest for dealing in pirated goods. The group included two police officers and four civilians.

According to Thai News Agency, the operation followed complaints from online store entrepreneurs who reported to the PACC Region 3 about a group demanding bribes. These individuals, including six police officers from the Intellectual Property Violation Suppression Unit of the Provincial Police Region 3, allegedly colluded to raid warehouses in Buriram and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. They extorted between 200,000-300,000 baht per arrest and demanded monthly “protection” payments ranging from 2,000-5,000 baht to be deposited into nominee accounts.

The Anti-Corruption Division police were brought in to assist with the investigation. Their effort
s revealed that approximately 5 million baht had circulated through the nominee accounts in 2023. This evidence supported the request for arrest warrants from the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct, Region 3. Consequently, all six accused were apprehended in Phu Khiao District, Chaiyaphum Province, and are now facing legal prosecution.