58 reports over Nat's rogue gang

The official number of complaints lodged with police by alleged victims of the "border patrol gang" reached 58 yesterday, two weeks after they first hit public attention.

The number of victims is greater than the amount of complaints lodged, as many filed joint complaints to both local police, mainly in the South, the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok, and provincial authorities.

A couple also filed a report with the Surat Thani Human Rights Commission office.

Alleged gang leader Pol Captain Nat Chonwisitwanich and other members have been charged with more offences.

A large number of cases from Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Surat Thani have been reopened following the barrage of complaints.

Deputy police chief Pol General Thanee Somboonsab said he had heard some female members of Nat's ring were also due to turn themselves in to police, but he had yet to get official reports from his men confirming their surrender.

Thanee said one of Nat's gang members, who is on the run, had returned Bt200,000 he stole from a victim through Bang Phlat police. This man is expected to surrender shortly.

A Pathum Thani woman lodged a complaint with Klong Luang police yesterday, saying she was framed by a police gang in January 2003. After verifying police photos and records, Somrak Chaowakarn, who was paralysed from the waist down by a stray bullet during a police raid, said the men who broke into her home did not appear to be part of Nat's gang.

In Bangkok, Nat made six arrests in four police areas - Phya Thai, Bang Phlat, Pathum Wan and Phetkasem.

In Surat Thani, two people lodged complaints accusing two police of making wrongful arrests and planting amphetmamine tablets on them.

They were identified as Pol Captain Chetthaphan Wichaidit and Pol Lieutenant Piyaphat Thongphanlertkul. But there are no reports linking this pair to Nat's gang as yet.

Sisters Jaree Dokmaihom and Wanya Khongsak lodged complaints with Surat Thani police last year, accusing Nat and his associates of wrongful arrest. The pair, in court custody awaiting trial, said they had suffered greatly since then.

Wanya had been unable to speak after allegedly being tortured with electric shocks.

They said strangers kept visiting their homes at night in Phrae Saeng district, where there were only 20 women and children. They alleged Nat and gang members threatened to kill all of them if they spoke up. The sisters were so scared they chose to stay in prison during trial rather than be bailed.

The Nation