“Shocking news! Deputy Interior Minister’s son-in-law, Weerachart Rasamee, and his subordinates have been arrested for allegedly extorting money. This incident sheds light on the irony of corruption within the department meant to combat it. #Corruption #Arrested #Irony #InvestigationOngoing”
ShockingNews #DeputyInteriorMinister #SonInLawArrested #Extortion #CorruptionIrony #InvestigationInProgress #TalukdooMunicipality #CorruptionInThailand
Arrest of Key Figures
On a seemingly usual Tuesday morning in Uthai Thani province, an unexpected event unfolded. The son-in-law of Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised, 45-year-old Weerachart Rasamee, found himself in the grasp of the law. The accusation? Extortion of money from a tap water contractor. The irony lay in the fact that Thaised was assigned to suppress influential people nationwide, and it was his own family under the spotlight.
Rasamee, the mayor of Talukdoo municipality, was apprehended at a residence in tambon Talukdoo, Thap Than district. However, the dragnet didn’t stop with him. Two of his subordinates were also arrested at the municipal office. These included Thanapat Dulyathikan, 47, the assistant mayor, and Kulathat Samakkhee, 23, assistant civil works chief of the municipal office.
Cash Transaction Intercepted
The intrigue deepened with the apprehension of two more suspects at a branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Muang district. The suspects, Manop Tittimanop, 51, and Yingyong Khachachan, 30, were allegedly there to receive 600,000 baht in cash from the victimized contractor.
Official Denial and Investigation
Despite the dramatic arrests, all suspects vehemently denied the charges. Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Parnkaew, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, confirmed a discussion with Deputy Interior Minister Chada about the arrests. Apparently, Chada urged him to pursue legal action without hesitation.
Unraveling the Extortion Scheme
According to Pol Col Prasong Chaloempan, deputy commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, the extortion scheme was meticulously planned. Weerachart Rasamee was said to have orchestrated the extortion, while Thanapat and Kulathat were the negotiators with the victim. It was Manop and Yingyong’s task to collect the extorted cash.
Back in September, the group allegedly demanded 1 million baht from a contractor who secured a contract to build two groundwater-based tap water systems for tambon Hat Thanong of Muang district and Talukdoo in Thap Than. The contractor persisted despite threats to withdraw from the electronic bidding contest. However, the contractor faced problems obtaining construction materials from local suppliers and was subsequently asked to pay 1 million baht for smooth operations. The victim negotiated it down to 600,000 baht, scheduling the payment for what would become a fateful Tuesday morning.
This ongoing case is a glaring example of the very corruption that Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised is tasked with suppressing. The eventual outcome remains to be seen as the investigation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who are the major players involved in the alleged extortion case?
In the alleged extortion case, the major players involved include Weerachart Rasamee, the son-in-law of Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised and the mayor of Talukdoo municipality. Two of Rasamee’s subordinates, Thanapat Dulyathikan, the assistant mayor, and Kulathat Samakkhee, assistant civil works chief of the municipal office, were also arrested. Additionally, two more suspects, Manop Tittimanop and Yingyong Khachachan, were apprehended at a bank branch while allegedly attempting to receive extorted cash.
2. What are the details of the alleged extortion scheme?
According to deputy commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, Pol Col Prasong Chaloempan, the alleged extortion scheme was meticulously planned. Weerachart Rasamee is said to have orchestrated the scheme, with Thanapat and Kulathat acting as the negotiators with the victim. Manop and Yingyong were given the task of collecting the extorted cash. The group allegedly demanded 1 million baht from a contractor who had secured a contract to build two groundwater-based tap water systems. Following threats and problems obtaining construction materials, the contractor negotiated the payment down to 600,000 baht.
3. What has been the response of Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised to the arrest of his son-in-law?
Upon learning of the arrests, Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised had a discussion with Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Parnkaew, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division. Despite the involvement of his family in the allegations, Chada urged Parnkaew to pursue legal action without hesitation, highlighting his commitment to suppress corruption.
