SURAT THANI — More than 50 vendors on the southern island of Koh Samui gathered in front of a police station last night to protest rampant bribery among police officers on the island.
The rally was sparked by the arrest of 42-year-old woman who sold counterfeit purses near Chaweng beach yesterday evening.
According to the owner of the shop, police arrested her employee several hours after they demanded 50,000 baht to overlook the store’s violation of copyright laws.
The owner, Patcharee Chimthaprasert, 49, said she initially agreed to pay the bribe, but that officers later raised the price 190,000 baht, which she was unable to afford.
Four officers returned several hours later and arrested her employee, Nampueng Moongraiklang, and confiscated 28 bags as evidence, she said. Nampueng was charged with selling counterfeit copyrighted material.
After news of the arrest spread, around 50 vendors from 20 shops near Chaweng beach closed down their stores and staged a rally in front Bo Phut Police Station. The group filed a complaint that the four police officers extorted bribes from Nampueng and other vendors in the area.