His arrest came after Pairat Sae-Oui complained to Pol Lt Col Yongyuth Krongmalai of Phuket Town Police that Chawwarote had called him, claiming that he was representing the Phuket Police Chief and also dropping the name of Gen Chote’s boss, Commander of Police Region 8 Lt Gen Yongyuth Jaroenmanit.
Chawwarote – who never gave his name over the phone – demanded money that he said would be spent on banquets for powerful police officers.
He did this not just once, but 41 times, and – astonishingly – Mr Pairat transferred the money demanded each time into a Siam Commercial Bank account, for a grand total of B1.5 million, or an average of around B35,000 a time.
The account was in the name of Pongsak Limseng who, Chawwarote told his victim, was his driver’s account.
Yesterday, however, he called again, this time demanding payment of B8,500 in cash, which he said would be spent on a police welcome party at Laemhin Seafood restaurant.
The two arranged to meet at 9.30 pm to hand over the cash at the Yang Sae-Iaw Clan Club on Poonphol Rd in Phuket Town. Mr Pairat called police who waited at the club and arrested Chawwarote as soon as the cash was handed over to him.
Chawwarote confessed that he had been passing himself off as Gen Chote’s representative for two or three months. Mr Pairat was his sole victim, he said.
Police, however, believe that he may have scammed many local business people, and expect a flood of complaints once his face has been made public.