Shinawat Waiwinyab (seated) has been arrested
for extortion on Larn Island.
Teerarak Suthathiwong
A former Chonburi Immigration Office employee was arrested for
allegedly masquerading as an immigration cop and shaking down Koh Larn
business owners.
Shinawat Waiwinyab, 30, was captured at a market on the island March 4.
Officers found on him a stolen 9mm handgun, four bullets and a fake
Immigration Police identification card.
A subsequent search of his apartment uncovered five pairs of handcuffs, a BB
gun, walkie-talkie, two flashlights and several police uniforms.
Col. Supachai Phuikaewkhum said police had received numerous reports that
the Ayutthaya native was acting as an immigration officer and arresting
foreign workers on the island. He allegedly would then demand cash from the
Thai business owners to release the foreign workers.
The handgun, he added, was reported stolen from a Koh Larn shooting range.
Shinawat admitted he used to work for the Chonburi Immigration Office, but
had quit. He denied the extortion charges and said he had the fake ID only
for fun.
