Pol Lt Col Chanita Bunyanuwat of the Thalang Police confirmed that Kulwit Wongsaratnavut, a 32-year-old resident of Moo 5, Mai Khao, filed the formal complaint on Monday (Aug 7).
Mr Kulwit reported that he parked his Phuket-registered white Ford Focus at the store, located on Thepkrasattri Rd just south of Thalang Town, at 11:30am on Monday.
When he exited the store, he was approached by four men who said they worked for a financial institution. The men said that Mr Kulwit owed six installments on the car amounting to about B200,000.
The men asked Mr Kulwit to hand over the car key, but he refused. The men then “pushed and pulled” him, then with three of the men holding him, one of the men removed the car key from his trousers “by force”.
Mr Kulwit said he was hurt in the incident, and that his shirt was removed in the process.
Mr Kulwit said he then agreed to drive the car to the Union Car Auction Warehouse in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn, where he said he was “forced” to sign and hand over the car.
Mr Kulwit noted that there were many cars parked at the warehouse.
Mr Kulwit said he was “very afraid of the gang of strong men”. With each passing day he was becoming increasingly worried about his personal safety and that of his property, he said.
Mr Kulwit said the men’s behaviour was with “disregard for the law”. “I want the police to take action and prosecute all four men. I want government officials to visit the car warehouse, which also has many motorbikes as well,” he said.
Mr Kulwit’s father, Mr Kitti, told reporters that he had called “the bank” that the loan was with and confirmed that the seizure of vehicles for non-repayment of loans remained the authority of Kittipak Thongsrichum, head of the bank’s debt collection unit.
The bank confirmed that a loan of B250,000 had been issued with the car as collateral. Thirteen installments had been paid on the loan, with six installments remaining amounting to B61,000, Mr Kitti said.
“Such actions are extortion in the middle of a well-known shopping place, which is a public place. How are they allowed to do this?” Mr Kitti said.
The son, Mr Kulwit also told reporters that he had filmed a video clip of the men while in the parking lot. During the video, one of the men said that he had “arranged to negotiate earlier”.
Of note, neither Mr Kulwit nor his father Mr Kitti made any mention of any previous requests for Mr Kulwit to surrender the car due to non-payment of the loan.
Lt Col Chanita of the Thalang Police has yet to confirm what action has been taken by the police.