The video, posted by lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd on his Facebook page, showed what appeared to be a man being suffocated by a plastic bag placed over his head while he was pinned down by four men.
Five police officers from Nakhon Sawan province were arrested, deputy police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said in a statement, while a “round the clock” hunt was on for two others who later handed themselves in.
An official police document showed that the suspect died of a drug overdose on August 5, before the video of the incident went viral on Tuesday.
Sittra, who runs a legal aid foundation, said he received the video clip from a lower-ranking officer who asked him to pass it to the national police chief, claiming it showed “Superintendent Joe” of Nakhon Sawan police station trying to extort money from a drug dealer.
Superintendent Joe, or Police Col. Thitisan Uttanapol, one of the two…
