Sub-district administration chief arrested for extorting cash from contract workers

POLICE and National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) officials raided the office of Nong Mi Sub-district Administration Chief in lower northeastern Si Sa Ket province and arrested him for extorting cash from 28 contract workers to renew their agreements, threatening to eliminate their positions if they failed to pay up, PPTVHD36 said this afternoon (Sep. 17). The police team from Central Investigation Bureau, specifically the Counter Corruption Division, teamed up with anti-graft officials in searching the office of Mr. Yotphon (surname withheld), chief of Nong Mi sub-district administration, known in Thai as Or Bor Tor, and arrested him under warrants issued by Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 3 after finding bundles of cash there. He faces serious charges, including abuse of official authority to coerce or induce others to hand over property, soliciting benefits, and malfeasance in office. These charges fall under Sections 148, 149, and 157 of the Criminal Code, as well as Sections 172 and 173 of the Organic Act on Anti-corruption, B.E. 2561 (2018). The case stemmed from tips from a group of victims — contract employees for Nong Mi sub-district administration. An in-depth investigation revealed that last month Yotphon summoned 28 contract employees — whose agreements were set to expire at the end of this month — to a meeting. He issued an ultimatum: anyone wishing to have their agreement renewed had to pay him a “renewal fee” of 30,000 baht per person, amounting to a total of 840,000 baht. Furthermore, he intimidated and pressured them, setting a deadline for these employees to hand over the money. He threatened that failure to pay would result in their contracts not being renewed and hinted at eliminating certain positions to coerce compliance. Fearing job loss, many employees felt compelled to find the money to secure their employment, a situation that ultimately led to this arrest. Following the arrest, officials transferred the suspect and the seized evidence to investigators at the Counter Corruption Division for further legal proceedings. NACC reiterated that using authority to intimidate and extort subordinates constitutes a serious criminal offence. Any member of the public or government official who falls victim to such actions can report the matter via the agency’s hotline at 1205; all information provided will be kept strictly confidential. This and Front Page: Police and graft-busters arresting Nong Mi Sub-district administration Chief. Photos – PPTVHD36