Store owner says excise officers extorted her

Five excise officers who allegedly extorted 5,500 baht from a 75-year-old grocery store owner in Sai Mai district on Feb 13 are being summonsed to face charges, Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) police said on Sunday.

Sunaphon Bunkoet, the victim, yesterday said she had identified the officers by their voice and appearance before investigators.

She visited Bang Khen station yesterday to provide additional information after earlier giving her account of the incident, captured by security cameras at her store.

A police probe found the excise officers showed up at the store about 4.50pm. It said the five searched the place, took a pack of cigarettes and disappeared into their van before later re-emerging to accuse the owner of selling counterfeit cigarettes.

They whisked her away into a waiting van and demanded she pay 20,000 baht in exchange for her freedom, according…