Nong Khai Police clarify the heated issue of officers allegedly requesting to share gold, affirming that gold bars were taken for forensic analysis in a gold shop case after arresting a conscript involved in burglary of an Air Force officer's residence. The suspect claims the evidence was seized by Nong Khai police during a drug-driving arrest, who then demanded gold bars in exchange for dropping theft charges.
On 30 August 2026, under the direction of Police Major General Kiatkul Sonthiener, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, Police Colonel Saksit Meesawat, Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, Police Colonel Thanatpong Kiram, Superintendent of Sai Mai Police Station, Police Lieutenant Colonel Ditsayadech Yimyam, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Sai Mai Police Station, along with Police Lieutenant Colonel Paijit Nusewa, Police Lieutenant Colonel Sorakrit Naksut, Investigation Officers at Sai Mai Police Station, Lieutenant Kittidech Anyapoth, Sub-Lieutenants Somkiat Ruangkamhai and Wirat Phulin, Deputy Investigation Officers at Sai Mai Police Station, and military personnel from the Signal Company, Air Force Joint Battalion, jointly arrested Mr. Piyapong, 22, from Chanthaburi Province, and Ms. Sukanya, 22, from Ubon Ratchathani Province.
Seized evidence included 68 plastic-boxed amulets, 11 commemorative medals, 7 amulets with cord necklaces, one Luang Pho Sot votive statue, one Luang Pho Sothon votive statue, one smart watch, one gold necklace of unknown weight, an AURORA gold card belonging to the victim, two silver necklaces, one Kasikorn Bank deposit slip, 89,570 baht in cash, one Kasikorn Bank passbook, one gold transaction receipt, one one-baht gold necklace, two bus tickets from Nong Khai to Korat, two Hei Kwang gold shop cloth bags, one Mae Thongsuk gold shop cloth bag, three other gold shop cloth bags, two black diamond-studded PANANRAI bracelets, four diamond-studded amulet pendants, one diamond ring, six diamond-studded silver bracelets, eight silver pendants, two Hei Kwang gold shop warranty cards, one gold pin, one gold-colored bracelet, one black YAMANO cloth bag, one black Samsung S23 mobile phone, 11 commemorative medals, 10 amulets, one one-baht gold necklace, one gold diamond ring, and one diamond pendant — totaling 33 items. The arrests were made near the Kantrat Health Park Meeting Hall.
On 24 August 2026, the victim filed a complaint with investigators at Sai Mai Police Station reporting that multiple items were stolen from within the residence of an Air Force officer in Khlong Thanon Subdistrict, Sai Mai District, Bangkok. Subsequently, the arrest team, together with military personnel from the Air Force Signal Company, conducted an investigation to track down the suspects.
Reviewing CCTV footage from the scene revealed the suspect fleeing into an adjacent officer's residence. Further investigation identified the suspect as Mr. Piyapong, 22, a conscript in the army stationed at that officer’s residence, who fled after committing the crime.
Military personnel from the Air Force Signal Company searched Mr. Piyapong’s quarters and found seized items including 68 plastic-boxed amulets, 11 commemorative medals, 7 amulets with cord necklaces, one Luang Pho Sot votive statue, and one Luang Pho Sothon votive statue. These items were confiscated and secured.
Later, at approximately 20:00 on 28 August, Mr. Piyapong returned to the area accompanied by Ms. Sukanya, 22, his girlfriend. The arrest team identified themselves and searched Mr. Piyapong, recovering an additional 27 items reported by the victim. These items were also seized as evidence.
During questioning, Mr. Piyapong admitted to burglarizing the victim's residence. However, he claimed some of the seized items had been taken by officers of Nong Khai Police Station at the Nong Song Hong checkpoint during a drug-driving arrest on 24 August, after he was stopped while driving a pickup truck from Nong Khai to Udon Thani. He said he ran a red light, was searched, and the evidence was found in his vehicle. He acknowledged the gold was from the burglary but said officers took him inside a room while his girlfriend waited outside.
He said the officers counted the gold bars in front of him and allegedly told him that to receive lesser charges, he had to give them gold bars. They took 6 baht 2 salung of gold bars in exchange for dropping the theft charge, returning 3 baht 2 salung to him. Additionally, they confiscated 15 laptops and over 140 mobile phones, which he claimed were not stolen but belonged to officers he worked with. The officers ignored his objections and did not record any seizure documentation. The officers filed a drug-driving arrest report and sent him to Nong Khai Police Station, where the court fined him 3,500 baht. He then returned and was arrested again. The remaining 3 baht 2 salung of gold bars was sold by his girlfriend for cash.
Subsequently, the Air Force Signal Company coordinated with investigators to take Mr. Piyapong and Ms. Sukanya, along with the seized evidence, for further questioning before forwarding the case to Sai Mai Police Station to prosecute on charges of burglary or receiving stolen goods.
Reports indicate that five officers were stationed at the Nong Song Hong checkpoint under Nong Khai Police Station: one police sergeant major, two deputy sergeant majors, one police corporal, and two police lance corporals.
.Nong Khai Police Stationissued a clarification regarding circulated claims that "police requested to share gold from the suspect," stating that such social media messages could cause public misunderstanding and offering the following explanation.
Nong Khai Police Station urges the public to acknowledge the facts supported by official documents and to exercise discretion when receiving news, verifying information from credible sources to avoid misunderstandings.