Bangkok police yesterday arrested one of their own and his accomplice for allegedly beating and robbing a Thai businessman of Indian descent.
Police Sgt. Maj. Wattana Changsab from Pracha Cheun precinct and Arthit Asunee Na Ayutthaya were arrested after crashing a motorbike into a food cart in Lat Phrao while fleeing their alleged victim, 45-year-old Sirikan Divali, The Nation reported.
The policeman and his partner allegedly clubbed Sirikan on his “helmeted head” and robbed him of 8,000 baht in cash at Soi Lad Phrao 106 when a police patrol passed by. The suspects fled on their motorcycle – with Mr. Sirikan giving chase – and crashed in front of Bodindecha School on Soi Ramkhamhaeng 43/1.
Mr. Sirikan told police he was riding his motorcycle when the outlaw duo ambushed him, and that he fought back after being clubbed, the Bangkok Post reported. He added that the men also robbed him last year of 40,000 baht in front of a Big C in Lat Phrao.
Police seized from the men a .357 revolver, six bullets, 8,100 baht in cash, a baton and a motorcycle without a license plate, the Post reported.
The suspects were involved in numerous assaults and robberies and that most of the victims were Thai-Indian businessmen, police said. The pair confessed saying that they targeted Thais of Indian descent as they “assumed they would not file a police complaint”, The Nation reported. They said they needed the money to pay off gambling debts.
Pracha Chuen Police Deputy Superintendent Noppakhun Prathumpet said that Sgt Maj Wattana was “likely to be sacked as a result of his actions,” the Post report added.
