'Pay 27,000 baht to be free': Taiwanese actress warns of 'corrupt cops' in Bangkok

'Pay 27,000 baht to be free': Taiwanese actress warns of 'corrupt cops' in Bangkok
Taiwanese actress Charlene An claims to have been extorted by police while on vacation in Bangkok.
PHOTO: Instagram/Charlene An

A leisurely trip to Thailand became a horrific experience for Taiwanese actress Charlene An.

In multiple Instagram Stories (IGS), Charlene claimed she and her friends were detained by Thai police officers and made to pay 27,000 baht (S$1,079) for their freedom.

"Goodbye, rotten Bangkok!" the 32-year-old wrote in one IGS recounting the incident.

She had been travelling in Bangkok with her friends between Dec 29 and Jan 5 when she said they encountered a police checkpoint on Jan 4, at around 1am in the Huai Khwang district of Bangkok near the Chinese embassy.

"They (the police) began by searching our bodies, then our bags, then vehicle… they wanted to find if we had any drugs or illegal items," Charlene told Taiwanese media in a recent interview. They would also use this moment to check how much money their marks had on them, she added.

When they couldn't find anything illegal on Charlene and her friends, the police asked to check their visas, she claimed. 

She then produced her Visa on Arrival, which she recalled to be legally issued when she touched down in Thailand. However, the officers allegedly insisted that it was lacking certification.

"I was detained at 2.25am… I wanted to secretly record them [and the incident], but was caught and made to delete my footage," Charlene said on her IGS.

Charlene and her group were also brought to the police station where they attempted to speak to the officers for about two to three hours.

PHOTO: Screengrab/Instagram/Charlene An

She also wrote on her IGS that she wanted to call for help via her phone during the ordeal, but the police had allegedly told her she could not, lest her charges get increased.

She recounted in the interview: "They demanded an apology from us. We did everything we could to apologise, even saying it in Thai — the only thing we didn't do was kneel down and beg.

"After I finished apologising, I was still angry… I really felt very helpless and aggrieved."

The officers then allegedly instructed her to "pay 27,000 baht to be free", adding that they were "more expensive" officers. They also moved the transaction to an alley to avoid any surveillance cameras, Charlene claimed.

"They then dispatched a cab for us to leave the area," she told Taiwanese media. 

She added: "There were also about five South Korean women who were also stuck in the station alongside us."

Charlene appeared drunk, Thai police say

Police Colonel Yingyos Suwanno, chief of the station at Huai Khwang, said yesterday (Jan 26) that his station doesn't usually set up checkpoints where Charlene had indicated.

Police Major General Samroeng Suanthong, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, also responded to Charlene's accusations yesterday.

They said that they followed proper protocol in conducting a normal search for illicit items at 1am on Jan 4, and that Charlene appeared drunk and did not have a passport on her, the Bangkok Post reported.

There was also a language barrier due to Charlene speaking Mandarin, while the officers spoke English and used gestures.

Suanthong asserted that Charlene told Thai police that someone would come by to deliver her passport, but an hour passed and no one arrived.

Police also allegedly found a vaporiser in her bag, which is an illegal item in Thailand.

They claimed they then let her off with a warning, moving the checkpoint to a different location as per their schedule.

Additionally, the allegations of extortion were also dispelled by Suanthong, who said that local surveillance showed the policemen did not bring anyone into an alleyway to request for bribes.

In response to this, Charlene posted on her Instagram Story again today and wrote: "Wow, that's not true at all! I didn't drink at all! 

"I'll speak with international enforcement then explain again, but are the corrupt cops in Thailand trying to use me to wash themselves clean of any dirt because I've harmed their interests? What nonsense."

PHOTO: Screengrab/Instagram/Charlene An

In following posts, she also challenged the officers to provide footage from surveillance cameras in the area, adding that she can still point out exactly which officer had allegedly taken money from her.

And although she might have had a bad experience in Thailand, she bears no hate for the country itself.

Responding to an apology from a netizen who claims to be Thai, she said: "It's ok, it's not your fault. There are still many beautiful things in Thailand."

ALSO READ: Anti-corruption chief at Chinese spy agency admits taking $45 million in bribes

khooyihang@asiaone.com

For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.

homepage

trending

trending
    MOM probes alleged fake injury claim by Sumo Salad employee amid police probe into owner’s death
    Singapore-registered cars must have COE of over 6 months to apply for VEP, says Malaysian transport minister
    Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang revealed to have been executed for murder of 16-year-old girlfriend
    Youth sent to hospital after allegedly vaping and behaving erratically on overhead bridge in Bishan
    Long John Silver's slowly shifts to 24/7 operations, here are 4 outlets now open round the clock
    Smiths Authentic British Fish & Chips to stay open for another 6 months after rental reduction
    Four Star rolls out SG60 celebration with $60 bedframe and up to $600 off sofas and furniture
    Kite string rips through clothes and bag strap, nearly strangles motorcyclist on KL highway
    Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH
    Unhealthy air quality in Malaysia, NEA warns of potential transboundary haze
    'If you don't buy, others will': Woman lists NDP tickets for $25 each
    HSA seizes 54 vape pods during raid of 16-year-old boy's home, etomidate found in some

Singapore

Singapore
    • NParks tells Holland Drive auto pet wash operator to cease use of machine
    • Woman loses husband in JB crash 3 months after miscarriage
    • Police test ride-hailing robot to patrol Changi Airport T4
    • Cement truck overturns in Chinatown, driver taken to hospital
    • 'Please help us seek the truth': Sister pleads for eyewitnesses after brother dies in accident on CTE
    • 'I have seen his hands tremble, his eyes go blank': Son's Kpod addiction leaves parents in $30k debt
    • 'Not surprising': Experts on 4-room HDB unit in Clementi sold for $1.28m
    • Over 280 applications, 0 offers: Fresh grad's year-long job hunt highlights new jobseeker woes
    • Malaysian Wai Kei Fung couriered the bail amount to Singapore Wilson Ang, who acted as a bailer for money.
    • 'My world came crashing down': Woman shares grief after losing boyfriend to substance abuse, mental health struggles

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Coldplay might have exposed tech CEO's alleged affair during concert
    • 'I hope Wang Xiaofei earns a lot of money': Ken Chu scolded for selling products by Barbie Hsu's ex-husband, explains his actions
    • 'There's no one whose kin doesn't die': Jet Li reveals his thoughts on death, why he doesn't attend funerals, daughter being suicidal
    • Video-taking ban at J-rock band My First Story's debut Singapore show results in superb concert experience
    • Kevin Feige teases Tom Holland will become 'proper Spider-Man' in next movie instalment
    • Mariah Carey announces new album Here For It All
    • Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54
    • Friends of Soundgarden frontman create tribute supergroup to release covers of his songs for charity

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Wedding ang bao rates in Singapore (July 2025): How much should you give?
    • From Paris to Raffles Place: Singaporean-founded deli Nonette opens pop-up, here's what you should try
    • Digital nomad in JB: Can Singaporeans really work from across the Causeway?
    • Books Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City opens, features reading room and outlet-exclusive items
    • Health hazard or harmless hue: Should you be worried about the food dye in your kaya and Thai tea?
    • Sylvanian Families at centre of legal battle with TikTok creator
    • The trick to seeing through a condo showflat (most buyers never do this)
    • Top 28 free things to do in Singapore (July 2025): Singapore Biryani Festival 2.0, SingaPAW weekend, Poetry Festival, and more
    • Where to find freehold semi-D landed homes from $4.4m: Touring Gilstead Road
    • Celebrate SG60: National Day promotions across Singapore

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • 'Give a positive review': Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers
    • 'Report 1 shop, another 10 appear': Hoyo Fest artists on copyright struggles
    • NTU penalises 3 students over use of AI tools; they dispute university's findings
    • Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works
    • Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
    • Initiative by IMDA, AI Verify Foundation tests AI accuracy, trustworthiness in real-world scenarios
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool

Money

Money
    • Up 4.3%: Singapore's economy grew in Q2 despite US tariff fears
    • US Senate passes aid, public broadcasting cuts in victory for Trump
    • Beneath China's resilient economy, a life of pay cuts and side hustles
    • France's PM wants to scrap 2 public holidays to help fix government finances
    • Retiring OCBC chief Helen Wong drives synergies among markets, business units, bank insiders say
    • Trump sets 19% tariff on Indonesia goods in latest deal, EU readies retaliation
    • US planes, cars and drinks on EU list for potential tariffs
    • China suffers $9.7b in losses from natural disasters in H1 2025
    • Best credit card promotions in Singapore (July 2025): Citibank, DBS, HSBC, UOB and more
    • Best bank offers in Singapore (July 2025): 50% cashback on public transit with Amex, win Business Class flights with HSBC and more

Latest

Latest
  • Trump's Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Musk's SpaceX
  • What you need to know about Trump, Epstein and the MAGA controversy
  • Daily roundup: Kite string rips through clothes and bag strap, nearly strangles motorcyclist on KL highway — and other top stories today
  • 2 dead, 10 missing after colossal rain in China's Shandong
  • Taiwan, EU both face threats of 'external infiltration', president tells European lawmakers
  • China rallies for opposition as Taiwan gears up for mass parliamentary recall
  • Landmine dispute escalates tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
  • Pakistan police say tribal chief among 14 arrested over 'honour killing'
  • Heavy rains expected as Tropical Storm Wipha approaches Vietnam's northern coast

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • School van in JB overturns after hitting uncovered manhole, 16 students injured
  • Thai woman allegedly extorts $15m from senior Buddhist monks over 3 years, gambles away almost everything
  • I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons
  • China mum jailed for selling 2 sons for over $14k to tip livestreamers, buy clothes
  • Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN
  • Malaysian man strikes $4m lottery after betting on his, girlfriend's IC numbers for 3 years
  • Singaporean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times
  • JB mum forgets baby in car during shopping trip; cops, locksmith rescue infant
  • Lurid tale of China's cross-dressing 'red uncle' goes viral online
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.