Son of Thailand's ex-PM Thaksin charged with money-laundering

[tomta]

To me, it is very disturbing that so many commentators on this thread have as their major justification the fact that Thaksin's son is a bad seed, born into sin, He's a Shin. It seems enough to list the crimes of his father to convict him. 

[scorecard]

9 hours ago, pornprong said:

If you know the "Shins" are as corrupt as they come, then you must know at least a little about the corruption of other Thais (otherwise, how else could you make the comparison?). So, just to enlighten us lay people, could you please list the three most severe cases of Thai corruption that you are aware of that doesn't involve a "Shin". You know, the ones you compared with "Shin" corruption to reach your conclusion that the "Shins" are as "corrupt as they come". 

 

Should you be unable to provide such a list, we are all going to have to assume that your opinions regarding the "Shins" are a result of (fascistic leaning) prejudices and not facts.

 

(ps - good place to start would be -  http://www.motherjones.com/politics/1993/05/motherjones-mj93-course-corruption/

 

Corrupting the legal system does not lead to less corruption.

 

Doesn't take a genius to realise this simple fact.

 

http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=4774

 

Perhaps you need to remove the blinker restricting the range of vision of your "allseeingeye"

 

Maybe they do deserve legal sanction, then again, maybe not - that's the problem created when the courts are interfered with to achieve desired political outcomes.

 

Would you feel comfortable pulling the trigger to fire the fatal bullets into the two Burmese lads convicted of the Koh Tao murders?

 

"....when the courts are interfered with to achieve desired political outcomes."

 

OIC, the several million Baht in the donut box.

[scorecard]

53 minutes ago, tomta said:

To me, it is very disturbing that so many commentators on this thread have as their major justification the fact that Thaksin's son is a bad seed, born into sin, He's a Shin. It seems enough to list the crimes of his father to convict him. 

 

Well he got caught cheating in his uni exams.

[tomta]

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

Well he got caught cheating in his uni exams.

Yes, he did, and he should have been expelled without a degree. He was not charged or failed because he was the son of an important man. And also I do remember that the rector of Ramkamhemg shamefully said "THis is normal. It happens a lot". He should have been fired. Now Oak is being charged with all sorts of things because he is the son of an important man. Other associated people are not being charged.None of these things should happen for these reasons.. And certainly what we are seeing and what many commentators on this thread endorse is that being a Shin means being guilty. Backtrack through the thread and you will see "The Shins this"> "The Shins that" as though they are not and can not be individuals. They are just criminals because they are "Shins". Where can this lead?

[The Old Bull]

I heard they are now preparing charges against Taksin's dog, then his cat. Got to get em all.

[halloween]

3 hours ago, tomta said:

Yes, he did, and he should have been expelled without a degree. He was not charged or failed because he was the son of an important man. And also I do remember that the rector of Ramkamhemg shamefully said "THis is normal. It happens a lot". He should have been fired. Now Oak is being charged with all sorts of things because he is the son of an important man. Other associated people are not being charged.None of these things should happen for these reasons.. And certainly what we are seeing and what many commentators on this thread endorse is that being a Shin means being guilty. Backtrack through the thread and you will see "The Shins this"> "The Shins that" as though they are not and can not be individuals. They are just criminals because they are "Shins". Where can this lead?

He is being charged because he was in possession of B10 million illegally obtained. Sons of 'important' men DO NOT get a free pass.

 

If you wish to read today's BP you will notice how he was able to evade billions in taxes by obtaining a favourable ruling. The person who made that decision and others involved now get to pay for his crimes.

[sjaak327]

21 minutes ago, halloween said:

He is being charged because he was in possession of B10 million illegally obtained. Sons of 'important' men DO NOT get a free pass.

 

If you wish to read today's BP you will notice how he was able to evade billions in taxes by obtaining a favourable ruling. The person who made that decision and others involved now get to pay for his crimes.

They frequently do, some even do more serious stuff like running over a Thong Lor copper on Sukhumvit. Sorry, couldn't resist :)

[billd766]

8 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

They frequently do, some even do more serious stuff like running over a Thong Lor copper on Sukhumvit. Sorry, couldn't resist :)

 

You are correct. He should have been arrested and charged at the time.

 

That was surely under a different government as it was 5 years ago not to mention it was the police dragging their feet and not the government.

 

If the police had done their duty without fear or favour atm the time perhaps the story would have a different ending.

 

(Sorry, I couldn't resist that either).

[wayned]

The last time that I laundered money here I had a big problem.  I went into TOT in Takhli to pay my bill.  I gave the lady a 1000 baht note and when she put it under the black light she did not see what she should and said no good.  She tried the other 6000 baht that I had and all were bad.  I then remembered that I had left my money clip in the pocket of my pants and washed them.  I tried to explain but by then one of her colleagues had called the cops and two had arrived on motorbikes.  I tried o explain that I had got the money out of the BBL ATM but that it had been "laundered" and they insisted that we go to Bangkok Bank.  When I got there I explained to the assistant manager what had happened and she just laughed and took the 7000 baht.  She walked over to one of the tellers and exchanged it for new 7000 baht bills so the problem now was transferred to the person next in line.  I went back and paid my bill!

 

The moral of the story is don't launder your money in Thailand!

[sjaak327]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

 

You are correct. He should have been arrested and charged at the time.

 

That was surely under a different government as it was 5 years ago not to mention it was the police dragging their feet and not the government.

 

If the police had done their duty without fear or favour atm the time perhaps the story would have a different ending.

 

(Sorry, I couldn't resist that either).

Why did the police drag their feet, after all it was one of their own. Yes you are right, it was under a different government, however, THIS government had over 3,5 years to correct it and did precious little. Too busy to make sure Yingluck was convicted I suppose.

Edited October 20, 2017 by sjaak327

[billd766]

11 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

Why did the police drag their feet, after all it was one of their own. Yes you are right, it was under a different government, however, THIS government had over 3,5 years to correct it and did precious little. Too busy to make sure Yingluck was convicted I suppose.

 

The fact that the police dragged their feet is one good reason to overhaul the police entirely but I have heard that so many times since I have been here that I just ignored it.

 

I do accept that this governemt has has 3 1/2 years to do something but by the same standards the previous government had 1 1/2 years to correct it but did nothing either. They were probably too busy with the rice scam and trying to get an amnesty for Thaksin to bother about little things like cop killers.

[sjaak327]

27 minutes ago, billd766 said:

 

The fact that the police dragged their feet is one good reason to overhaul the police entirely but I have heard that so many times since I have been here that I just ignored it.

 

I do accept that this governemt has has 3 1/2 years to do something but by the same standards the previous government had 1 1/2 years to correct it but did nothing either. They were probably too busy with the rice scam and trying to get an amnesty for Thaksin to bother about little things like cop killers.

You might be right. this government however IS very busy amending and drafting laws, too bad cop killers can still not be put on trial in absentia, this government is much more concerned doing away with the opposition, judging from the law changes that makes trials possible in absentia, but only for 'political crimes'. They are more concerned in restarting trials against Thaksin, and or pressing charges against his son. Boss has nothing to fear, he's lucky his surname is not Shinawatra..

 

Of course, this is all not really relevant, my remark, that some sons of very important people do get a free pass, still stands, regardless of which government is in power. 

 

 

 

[billd766]

6 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

You might be right. this government however IS very busy amending and drafting laws, too bad cop killers can still not be put on trial in absentia, this government is much more concerned doing away with the opposition, judging from the law changes that makes trials possible in absentia, but only for 'political crimes'. They are more concerned in restarting trials against Thaksin, and or pressing charges against his son. Boss has nothing to fear, he's lucky his surname is not Shinawatra..

 

Of course, this is all not really relevant, my remark, that some sons of very important people do get a free pass, still stands, regardless of which government is in power. 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely.

 

Luckily neither of them were poor and picking mushrooms in the forest.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

This is one of those frequent times when I totally fail to understand the Thai criminal courts system:

 

Quote

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The only son of fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been formally charged with money-laundering, the Department of Special Investigations told Reuters on Wednesday.

 

Quote

 

Panthongtae had turned himself in on Tuesday but had been released as no arrest warrant for him has been issued.

 

 

 

 

Quote

 the DSI must decide whether to take the case to the criminal court.

 

If he's been charged with money laundering, doesn't that mean the DSI has decided to take him to criminal court. How could they charge him with money laundering and NOT take him to criminal court???

 

Perhaps it's their use of the term "charged." In English, "charged" usually means the prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a suspect. But the DSI aren't prosecutors, they're police. So presumably, at some point, prosecutors would have to agree to file the actual court case???

Edited October 20, 2017 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[eggers]

On 19/10/2017 at 12:19 AM, joecoolfrog said:

And you are remarkably foolish if you think any of the above are the reasons they are being prosecuted.

Not at all foolish; staying within bounds of defamation laws...feel free to cite what you believe you know to be the reasons (sic, facts), enlighten us, ohh Guru???

Suspect the usual run of rumours & innuendos.... 

[daboyz1]

I heard they are now preparing charges against Taksin's dog, then his cat. Got to get em all.

I hope so.

[metisdead]

Inflammatory posts and replies have been removed. 

[scorecard]

On 10/20/2017 at 10:06 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

This is one of those frequent times when I totally fail to understand the Thai criminal courts system:

 

 

 

 

If he's been charged with money laundering, doesn't that mean the DSI has decided to take him to criminal court. How could they charge him with money laundering and NOT take him to criminal court???

 

Perhaps it's their use of the term "charged." In English, "charged" usually means the prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a suspect. But the DSI aren't prosecutors, they're police. So presumably, at some point, prosecutors would have to agree to file the actual court case???

 

And another example of the very poor quality of media reporting in this country.