A Middle-Eastern suspect was arrested by Lumpini police on charges of pretending to be a police volunteer and demanding a bribe from an overstaying Syrian but he denies having done so while helping police bring in two of his friends, Thai News Agency said today (August 24).
Metropolitan Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn said Lumpini police investigators arrested Khasal, a Syrian, after getting a court warrant on charges of swindling Alhabi Mohammad Yasir, 49, also a Syrian.
The latter had filed a complaint that police volunteers had drawn the attention of Lumpini police to his son, Alhabi Mohammad Wahal, 23, who had overstayed in Thailand.
He added that they demanded 650,000 baht to get him released but he was instead sent and detained by Immigration Police in Soi Suan Phlu on June 1.
The suspect denied the charges but reported two of his friends, Basel from Lebanon and Islam from Egypt, one of whom he said used to be a police volunteer translating at Lumpini station.
Pol Lt Gen Sanit added that another suspect is likely to be arrested this afternoon.
CAPTION: A poster at Lumpini Police Station showing the investigation process leading to the arrest of the three suspects. Photo: Thai News Agency