Japanese expat accuses Thai police of kidnapping him for THB 3-million ransom

Three police officers identified as Pol.Lt.Col. Pngthawat Kongsuea from Office of Police Strategy, Pol.Lt.Kritpakorn Niamsorn from Crime Suppression Division and Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Weerasak Paosu from Phra Khanong police station, after Masato Kikuchi, a Japanese expat living in Bangkok filed a complaint against them, saying he and his wife were kidnapped and demanded a THB 3-million ransom.

According to the 36-year-old owner of an entertainment complex in Silom area, the officers went to his luxurios Empire Tower condominion on Sathorn Road on September 5 and accused him and his Thai wife of being part of a drug syndicate, Coconuts Bangkok reported.

Riot police stand guard inside the Royal Thai Police Headquarters. Photo by: cryptome.org

The officers allegedly took the couple to a safe house and threatened them with guns. They ordered Kikuchi to hand over THB3 million baht for him not be arrested. 

But Kikuchi told the officers that he only had THB3 million in cash. The officers accepted the amount and released the couple.

The location of the safe house was not identified.

Khaosod reported that police requested warrants from Bangkok South Criminal Court to arrest the trio under the charges of threatening someone with a gun, accepting bribes, and wrongly refraining to perform official duties..