Bangkok—
On February 7th, 2024, Mr. Ekkapop Laungprasert, the Advisor to the Minister of the Interior and the founder of the Sai Mai Tong Rot Facebook page, brought a Japanese victim who allegedly was physically attacked by a Japanese gang, resulting in a serious physical condition, to receive legal assistance.
The Japanese victim, 35, publicly identified only as Mr. Tetsuo, also held Peruvian nationality after living in Peru for a while. Tetsuo moved and opened a business in Thailand, however, he stated that he was physically attacked by five Japanese gang members on October 18th, 2022.
Tetsuo then filed a report to Khlong Tan police in early 2023 against the suspects for causing serious bodily injury to another person offenses, according to Ekkapop.
However, a prosecutor instead ordered charges of assault causing bodily injury to another person, a lesser charge, resulting in two months imprisonment, but with all sentences suspended. The Japanese victim therefore felt that Thai law had not been conducted fairly, according to Ekkapop.
A Sai Mai Tong Rot team gathered relevant evidence involving the Japanese gang allegedly doing shady businesses in Thailand and reported their findings to Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakphan, the Deputy National Police Chief. Upon investigation, the Japanese gang allegedly took over legitimate businesses of foreigners in Thailand and used them as money laundering places, according to Ekkapop.
Tetsuo reportedly stated via an interpreter that on the incident day, he went for dinner with a group of his friends in the Phra Khanong area, Bangkok. However, the Japanese gang, armed with golf clubs, physically attacked them.
Tetsuo reportedly told Mr. Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, the spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), that he believed this was due to a conflict between other business partners in the past that allegedly involved the Japanese gang but didn’t involve him, who he says was targeted as an innocent person.
Tetsuo reported the incident to both Thai and Japanese police, and the Japanese Embassy, however, there was no response from either party as they allegedly claimed insufficient information. Tetsuo asserted that he was not involved with the criminal Japanese group or any business disputes and would further appeal to the Japanese Embassy once more to take further action on the suspects.
Ekkapop would also request a personal meeting with Pol. Gen. Surachet to address the issue of shady businesses allegedly owned by the Japanese gang and seek more aid for the victim.
