A former deputy superintendent of Special Branch Police and his 10 aides on Wednesday denied charges of extorting vendors at a major cosmetics market near Don Mueang airport and were each released on 300,000 baht court bail.
Pol Lt Col Santhana Prayoonrat, adviser to Talat Mai Don Muang market, and 10 other market employees arrived at the Criminal Court on Wednesday morning to give testimony in the case.
The 59-year-old former Special Branch officer and his co-accused are defendants in a suit filed by public prosecutors on June 29.
The other defendants, all men, are: Chanachot Suksukhon, 40; Wannachai Jairuang, 36; Wanphen Piewdamdee, 51; Sirichai Laokulprasit, 65; Pranom Kaewsawat, 59; Kritsana Lamrod, 41; Khanet Premkhrud, 42; Adisak Chansri, 39; Anucha Voradet, 53; and Anu Suksukhon 41.
The prosecutors indicted them for colluding in extortion and illegal assembly at Don Muang New Market between April 2016 and April 2018.
The defendants allegedly extorted money from vendors, collecting 1,000-3,000 baht a month from each shop, plus 700 baht a month parking fees for cars and 300 baht for motorcycles.
Under Section 337 of the Criminal Code colluding in extortion carries a maximum prison term of five years and/or a fine of 10,000 baht each. Illegal assembly offenders are liable to a jail term of 10,000 baht and/or fine of 10,000 baht each under Section 210 of the Criminal Code.
The defendants allegedly threatened vendors who refused to pay them.
Pol Lt Col Santhana and the other defendants denied all charges before the court.
The court set Sept 3 for examination of evidence and witness lists. All defendants were later released on 300,000 baht bail each.
Emerging from the courtroom, the outspoken former cop said he would hold a press conference later today.
