In Kalasin, the Sahatsakhan Police Station chief had the victim identify all investigation officers to show their innocence. Coordination was also made with the Sahatsakhan District Territorial Volunteers. Authorities are working urgently to resolve the kidnap-for-ransom gang case. Suspects were handcuffed and searched, but no illegal items were found. The kidnappers demanded 50,000 baht for release, but the victim negotiated it down to 10,000 baht.
On 15 August 2026, the victim’s family sought help from an online news page in Kalasin province. This followed an incident on 11 August 2026, when the victim’s nephew was abducted by at least two men posing as officials late at night. They handcuffed him immediately and used deception to avoid appearing as state officials while demanding money for his release, as previously reported.
On 17 August 2026, reporters were contacted again by the victim’s family. After the incident, the victim had left the area fearing for his safety and requested local reporters to assist him in filing an official police report as evidence. They hoped the media would serve as a protective presence during the complaint process after narrowly escaping harm.
Mr. Ronayut, 48, the victim, said that on 11 August 2026 at about 9:30 p.m., while riding his motorcycle home from the fields, three men—one about 170 cm tall and two about 160 cm—ambushed him. They claimed to be officials, handcuffed him immediately, searched him but found nothing illegal, and demanded 50,000 baht for his release. After negotiation, they accepted 10,000 baht, allowing him to escape narrowly.
On 19 August 2026, Police Colonel Chakrapat Wijtrawaitaya, chief of Sahatsakhan Police Station, invited reporters to witness the victim identify every member of the investigation team. Those currently on duty were identified through photos. The victim confirmed none matched the suspects. Authorities then coordinated with the Sahatsakhan District Chief to bring territorial volunteers for the victim to identify as well, demonstrating the integrity of state officials and addressing public suspicions in this closely watched case.
The victim’s daughter told the Sahatsakhan investigation team that on 17 August 2026 at around 3:30 p.m., while driving for errands, she passed a vehicle resembling the one suspected in her father’s abduction. It was a white Toyota single-cab pickup truck with a license plate starting with 72?? from Kalasin province.
The Sahatsakhan Police Chief provided reporters with CCTV footage from the night of the incident. On 12 August 2026 at 1:00:50 a.m., footage shows a suspicious vehicle similar to the truck described by the victim’s daughter. Police are using this to trace and question the vehicle’s owner further.
One investigator asked the victim why he did not report the incident immediately, as early reporting would have allowed prompt pursuit of the suspects. Delays risk the suspects fleeing and possibly committing more crimes against others. The victim explained that fear and uncertainty about whom to trust caused him to hesitate for days before asking the media to assist as a protective escort to file the police report.
Latest reports indicate possible progress after CCTV captured a suspicious pickup truck passing in front of Sahatsakhan Police Station on the night of the incident. The vehicle then turned into an alley beside the station, entering a nearby government office close to the police station.