KOH PHANGAN: Le policier qui avait enlevé et volé deux touristes russes et qui a été retirés du service a été envoyé au continent, a-t-on révélé.
But when he asked for ten days holiday from his new desk job he simply went back and resumed his criminal ways with drug dealing criminals and would be murderers Thairath reported.
Maintenant, le chef de la police de Surat Thani fait face à l’enquête alors qu’il tente de limiter les dommages causés au tourisme sur l’île. Les opérateurs au début de la semaine avaient déploré que l’île avait une image de «Far West».
Ce cas a forcé le chef de la police à admettre la présence de quelques moutons noirs, mais il a assuré que « presque 100% » des policiers étaient honnêtes.
Le chef de la police de Surat Thani Apichart Bunsrirot est allé à Koh Phangan hier pour voir le progrès de l’affaire par lui-même. Il a assisté à la reconstitution en presence de trois des quatre suspects qui ont admis leur rôle dans l’enlèvement et le vol des touristes. Un autre le nie.
The chief was presented with a floral bouquet by hoteliers and tourist operators on the island in conjunction with the two victims – husband and wife Anton,36, and Ekaterina Lobanov, 35, who thanked the chief for his swift and decisive action so far.
The Russians had bravely gone to cops after they were picked up off Hat Rin beach and bundled into a Chevrolet pick-up after they were approached over a fake drugs deal. They were then driven away and robbed by the gang.
The reenactment took place at three locations including where the tourists were abducted, dumped on the Nai Han Road and where their stolen bag was tossed out by a bridge.
Tourism operators on the island said that the gang were well known and several of them had been let out of jail after serving time for drugs offences and attempted murder. They were in league with the rogue cop – named as Suriyan Ranjuan or « Jiap » in extorting tourists in drugs deals.
The tourism operators told the media that more police were involved on the island. They said that there had been many cases but the tourists were reluctant to report the matter and had left Thailand without making reports.
The gangs ringleader « Jiap » was relieved of his job and sent to an inactive post in Don Sak, it has now been revealed. But last week he asked for ten days holiday and promptly return to his old stamping ground and resumed his criminal activities.
Chief Apichart said all resources were being employed to hunt him down. « There are some rogue policemen in the Surat force, » he admitted, « But almost 100% of my men are upstanding honest cops doing a good job ».
He said anyone found guilty of misdeeds would be prosecuted with the full force of the law without fear or favor.
However, this appeared to have not happened in the case of Jiap who was merely transferred to an inactive post. The locals on Phangan said he was well known for being involved in many cases there.
The chief said that most problems on the island stemmed from the drugs trade. Criminals were selling or offering drugs to tourists then robbing or extorting them, he said.
Source: Thairath