Naklua, the 2nd of August 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 8:30am on Monday, Captain Theerapong Ong-art (Banglamung Deputy Police Investigator) and a team of officers arrested two youths at the Amon Market in Naklua. The two teenagers, Mr. Nakarin Iem-bang [18] and Mr. Noppadol Sangmake [19] had been in the process of attempting to extort money from a local fresh produce vendor.
Following a report filed by Mr. Suwit Wachiranuntakul [34], the market vendor, regarding an ongoing extortion case being perpetrated against him at the Naklua market, police agreed to monitor the area and prevent further incidents. According to Mr. Wachiranuntakul, a “mafia” of approximately 5-6 teenagers had extorted approximately Bt400,000 from him over the last six months.
Further investigations revealed that Mr. Wachiranuntakul had been attempting to sell a portion of land via a local agent known only as Miss Pla. Having been unable to sell the property and paying several hundred baht in fuel cost for Miss Pla he discontinued his relations with her. Shortly after, the aforementioned youth “mafia” began extorting him for approximately 10-20,000 baht every few weeks, totalling Bt400,000. An inability to pay resulted in being threatened with violence by the gang.
Upon their arrests, Mr. Iem-bang and Mr. Sangmake were found to be under the influence of narcotics (methamphetamine) and in possession of a crude homemade .38 calibre pen-gun with two bullets.
The two offenders have subsequently been remanded in police custody while investigations continue into their gang affiliations.
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