Prison Guard Dismissed for Allegedly Extorting Money from Inmate's Daughter

BANGKOK, April 22 (TNA) – Ayuth Sintoppant, director-general of the Corrections Department, dismissed a prison guard pending disciplinary and criminal investigations into alleged extortion against an inmate’s daughter. The dismissal followed a complaint to the justice minister from a woman who said that the guard of the Thonburi Women Correctional Institute repeatedly extorted money from her in exchange for care for her imprisoned mother. An initial probe found the complainant had a case. Wallop Nakbua, deputy permanent secretary for justice, said he told the director-general of the Corrections Department to ensure the safety of the inmate concerned and relevant officials had yet to consider if the inmate should be transferred to another prison. They would find out if the affected inmate would like a transfer. Lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet who brought the first complainant to the justice minister planned to accompany the allegedly extorted family of another inmate at the same prison to file their complaint with police at the Anti-Corruption Division on April 22. (TNA)