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Published on February 3, 2008

"If we find that the convicts are victims of Nat's extortion we'll take the money back, and Nat will be charged with fabricating evidence," NCB secretary-general Kitti Limchaikij said yesterday.

Nat claimed 219 drug arrests, and payouts have been made for more than 100 of them. The cases will be investigated for frame-ups, Kitti said.

He also ordered the suspension of cash rewards to Nat for further cases.

Nat, who oversaw anti-narcotics operations in Chumphon, and his men were arrested in Bangkok on January 25 on charges of kidnapping a businesswoman and her two sons and demanding Bt8.7 million in ransom.

A police probe has confirmed that Nat concocted evidence and rigged cases against drug suspects.

Since Nat was arrested, many people have come forward to reveal that they or their relatives have been falsely convicted and jailed.

Just yesterday four complaints were made, two in Bangkok, one in Kanchanaburi and one in Surat Thani.

Ploipan Kuncharin, 26, reported to Bang Phlat Police Station in Bangkok that in August 2006 her father had been abducted from his home in Nakhon Si Thammarat by a "Border Patrol Police gang". She said police had beaten him up and taken valuables from his home. Her father was convicted on the false charge of possessing 184 methamphetamine tablets and imprisoned for 11 years, she said.

Maj-General Tesa Sirivatho, the Surat Thani provincial police commander, said 79 drug cases in the province had been reported as the responsibility of Nat and his team from 2006-2007. Seven people have told him they were victims of Nat's extortion, he said.

In Chiang Mai, National Police chief General Seripisuth Temejavej said the inquiry into Nat's behaviour would be conducted transparently.

"All those involved in the scandal will be charged and punished," he said.

The Nation