Activist Atchariya granted bail in B2.5m extortion case

Crime victims’ rights activist Atchariya Ruengrattanapong has been released on bail after appearing in court to answer charges in connection with an alleged 2.5-million-baht extortion plot targeting people involved in the justice process.

Police on Wednesday brought Mr Atchariya and two alleged accomplices to the Criminal Court to hear the charges, and the judges approved a 12-day detention period to allow police time to gather more evidence to support their case.

The accused subsequently sought temporary release and the court on Wednesday evening freed Mr Atchariya on a 400,000-baht surety. Bail conditions prohibit him from tampering with evidence, obstructing the investigation or contacting or threatening victims or witnesses.

The other two suspects — Pol Col Kawinsak Peerayosthonnont, deputy commander of Border Patrol Police Region 4, and Wipada Janraerai, a lawyer — were also released after posting sureties of 200,000 and 100,000 baht, respectively.

The trio have been accused of coercing payment from victims by threatening harm to their reputation and careers, as well as extortion. All have denied the charges, police said.

The case arose from complaints brought by Pol Col Watcharapol Kanchanakanthon, investigation chief of Immigration Bureau Sub-Division 3, which oversees the immigration detention centre in Soi Suan Phlu in Bangkok, along with three other individuals.

According to the case file, Pol Col Watcharapol was pressured to pay money to prevent Mr Atchariya from livestreaming allegations online that he was involved in the illegal removal of Chinese detainees from the detention centre.

Pol Col Watcharapol reportedly met Mr Atchariya to clarify detention procedures, after which Pol Col Kawinsak contacted the officer and offered to act as an intermediary to stop the broadcasts in exchange for money.

Ms Wipada, who worked under Pol Col Kawinsak, later contacted three other complainants who feared they would also be named in Mr Atchariya’s broadcasts, investigators said.

The group were told to raise 2 million baht to “clear” the matter through Pol Col Kawinsak. The demand was later increased to 2.5 million baht.

The four complainants pooled the money, which was handed over at a coffee shop in the Ram Intra area of Bangkok on Jan 9. The cash was divided into two envelopes and received by a man and a woman identified as Jiraroj Kornpattanasap and Walalak Kornpattanasap.

Despite this, Mr Atchariya later went ahead and broadcast the allegations on Jan 12 this year. The complainants claimed they felt compelled to pay because they feared damage to their reputations, positions and careers, as well as the possibility of disciplinary scrutiny.

Pol Lt Col Pramote Sooksri, a Crime Suppression Division investigator, told the court the inquiry was still incomplete, with 15 more witnesses to be questioned and forensic results pending.

He opposed bail, citing the organised nature of the alleged network, possible additional victims in similar cases and the risk of witness interference or asset concealment.

Pol Lt Col Pramote said three additional suspects already in custody will also be taken to court for remand.

Mr Atchariya last year was the subject of three defamation cases, one of which resulted in him receiving a one year jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Another high-profile legal crusader, Srisuwan Janya, is currently appealing a four-year sentence for attempted extortion of the head of the Rice Department.

He previously described the operation targeting him as entrapment, citing tactics such as leaving a bag of money at his home.