Police sued for B30m by man cleared of drug charges

The Royal Thai Police Office is being sued for 30 million baht by a man they accused of drug charges that were later dismissed. (Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)

A man cleared of drug charges has filed a lawsuit demanding 30 million baht from the Royal Thai Police Office.

Ratchasak Charoenrungruang assigned his father, Thanakorn, and a lawyer to sue the police office on his behalf at the Civil Court on Wednesday, accusing police in Prachin Buri of damaging his life.

The lawsuit demands compensation of 3 million baht plus 7.5% interest.

Mr Ratchasak, now 31, was accused of possession of methamphetamine pills for consumption and sale after eight policemen raided a house in March 2014. Police found 700 methamphetamine tablets in the house, but according to the lawsuit Mr Ratchasak had no connection with the drugs and was only visiting the house to buy fighting cocks.

In March 2015, the Criminal Court sentenced him to a suspended jail term of one year and six months for possession of 10 ya ba pills but dismissed another charge of possession with intent to sell the drugs. In March 2016 the Appeal Court overturned the ruling on the grounds that the evidence presented by police to the court conflicted with the charges, and the Supreme Court upheld the decision in May of this year.

After the case reached its conclusion, Mr Ratchasak resolved to sue the police office.

In filing the lawsuit at the Civil Court, his father said the demand for 3 million baht was compensation for loss of income from Mr Ratchasak's employment, as well as lost earnings from his lemon orchard and his fighting cocks, during the fight to prove his innocence. Mr Thanakorn said his son was axed from his job and police tried to force his son to confess to the charges.

The Civil Court set Feb 25 next year as the date for the plaintiff and accused to appear before the judges to start the process.