Drama over ‘unusually polite’ meeting between Premchai and senior police

By THE NATION

 

Alleged poacher Premchai Karnasutra greets Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul at a police station yesterday. Srivara returns the gesture.

 

CONSTRUCTION tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and three other suspects, all of whom have been charged with poaching in Kanchanaburi’s Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, met with police to hear charges against them at noon yesterday, three days before they were required to appear on Monday.

 

The “unusually polite” discussion between senior police officers and the tycoon, who is president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, at Thong Pha Phum police station was widely discussed on social media.

 

The investigation was 90-per-cent complete and its results should be submitted to public prosecutors by March 26, when the suspects’ fourth bail extension expires and they are due in court, Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner Pol General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul said yesterday.

 

Yesterday’s meeting was the first time Premchai had been seen in public since he was arrested at the sanctuary on February 5 and taken to Thong Pha Phum police station the following day.

 

He talked to Srivara for 10 minutes before entering an interrogation room. A video of their encounter was subsequently posted online with many criticising the senior officer for “overly bowing” to greet Premchai.

 

However, media sources reported that Srivara had only performed a wai in response to Premchai’s own wai. 

 

The sources also urged people to ensure that correct information was shared to avoid spreading misunderstandings.

 

A wai in Thai culture expresses hierarchy and seniority, with people who in higher positions rarely performing the gesture first and only in response after receiving one. 

 

In that context, Srivara, 58, as a senior police officer, could respond with a wai to Premchai, 63, but it would be culturally inappropriate for him to express too much deference by “overly bowing” even though Premchai is older. 

 

After joining officers questioning the four suspects, Srivara said 70 to 80 per cent of the suspects’ accounts matched evidence collected in the case and the accounts of arresting officials. He said investigators would review contradictory aspects in the suspects’ accounts and collect more evidence. 

 

The suspects were released later yesterday but Srivara said police might summon them again and require them to provide more information regarding points of contradiction.

 

The suspects face nine charges, including poaching, after being found in the sanctuary in possession of firearms and the remains of protected animals, including a black leopard.

 

Srivara added that the police had not deliberately delayed their investigation of Premchai and the other suspects as had been speculated.

 

“In a case this big, police must carefully investigate and gather evidence to ensure an airtight report. We will never let the Royal Thai Police’s image be tarnished,” Srivara said.

 

As Premchai left the precinct at 2.16pm in his car, he briefly said: “[The interview] is finished and I am exhausted because police asked many questions.” He added that he had to return home “to take medicine”.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340059

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-03

Yes the police were being polite, they were sorting out the size of the envelope.

4 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The investigation was 90-per-cent complete

Here we go again - Thai police and their percentages.

He's a suspect of a severe crime, so he should be cuffed and put in jail waiting his conviction. No wai or over bowing to him, he has lost his respect for me!

But in this country always the unexpected happens.

The rarely seen "Reverse Perp Wai".

 

 

With such a deep and graveling of a bow to an alleged  would be a prisoner soon, where his head nearly hitting the floor, you know

that he's not treated as equal to all and that the scales of justice are already tipping 

in favor of the accused....

Edited March 3, 20188 yr by ezzra

This greeting is the showing of respect to someone who is higher in society (Sakdi-na) it still exists today, no matter what crime the hiso commit they will never receive the correct justice their crimes deserve.

Add a big brown envelope to the police charity fund and a few wai's and Bobs your uncle all is good.

51 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

We will never let the Royal Thai Police’s image be tarnished,” Srivara said.

A statement on a par with anything Sir Winston Churchill ever uttered. 

58 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

We will never let the Royal Thai Police’s image be tarnished,”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 minutes ago, nev said:

This greeting is the showing of respect to someone who is higher in society (Sakdi-na) it still exists today, no matter what crime the hiso commit they will never receive the correct justice their crimes deserve.

Add a big brown envelope to the police charity fund and a few wai's and Bobs your uncle all is good.

Surely "Somchais"  your  Uncle?

"He added that he had to return home “to take medicine”.

Getting his "I am too ill to go to prison",excuse in very early.

just in case it does not work out the way he expects.

regards worgeordie

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

In that context, Srivara, 58, as a senior police officer, could respond with a wai to Premchai, 63, but it would be culturally inappropriate for him to express too much deference by “overly bowing” even though Premchai is older. 

And people wonder why Thailand does not move forward. 

I am sure that after this first meeting the 'priority' of class and the right amount of respect has been shown. Premchai now understands his place, on top.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

many criticising the senior officer for “overly bowing” to greet Premchai

 

Where's the jungle rules handbook when you need one?

 

If any (more) evidence was needed demonstrating just how deeply in the garbage bin the RTP is then look no further than the photos and videos here.

It is a truly ghastly organization that needs to be dismantled and built back up from nothing 

This shows how powerful money can do here.

25 minutes ago, Darcula said:

 

Where's the jungle rules handbook when you need one?

 

its dead shot by poachers

I wonder if he would treat me as well if I shot up all the local soi dogs ? 

34 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I wonder if he would treat me as well if I shot up all the local soi dogs ? 

It's the weekend, try it and find out.

No matter all the negativity here,ten years ago this case would have never made the news.

Social media even with all of its drawbacks is very strong and the Thai people are starting to realise that.

This story is closely being watched by millions and may i remind you an election is coming up in the not too far future?

Some parties are going to use the anti corruption angle,great oppertunity to show they are serious.

Good old 'mis-understandings'.

 

Premchai barely made an effort- the reply was that low he could have kissed his backside whilst down there (effectively he did anyway). 

Edited March 3, 20188 yr by Psimbo

I guess the wai was in order with Thai culture, due to that he was greated first by the person judged as having seniority. To the police plus in this case was that the person seen as having seniority was the first one to make a wai. There are only two things that has to be sorted out:

 

• There should not be any private person accused for an alleged crime that are beeing judged to have seniority. They lost that when beeing accused for comitting a crime.
• Also a short and correct wai would have been more suitable than a massive bow, that undermines the police in front of the accused.

Edited March 3, 20188 yr by Get Real

The depth of the wai indicates the respect afforded to the receiver. In this case only a graap would have been more servile.

With my meager bank account, I probably could not afford a wai like this.

We have the PM banging on about the law applying equally to all, yet we have a feudal heirarchical system where you have to wye in different positions to different people, etc. How can the law ever be equal to all with this backwards system? It simply can’t. 

 

--->>>   We will never let the Royal Thai Police’s image be tarnished,” Srivara said.    <<<----

 

6 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

He's a suspect of a severe crime, so he should be cuffed and put in jail waiting his conviction. No wai or over bowing to him, he has lost his respect for me!

But in this country always the unexpected happens.

The appaling pornographic statistics of traffic accidents didnt come through as severe to them. Whats the big hooha over the death of another animal?

7 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Here we go again - Thai police and their percentages.

He's just showing off his high school education

7 hours ago, colinneil said:

Yes the police were being polite, they were sorting out the size of the envelope.

That had already been negotiated , agreed, and accepted,  hence his appearance after a number of failed requests to attend - these things take time and require careful consideration - can't be rush,that's how mistakes and any loss of face are overcome.

5 hours ago, jvs said:

No matter all the negativity here,ten years ago this case would have never made the news.

Social media even with all of its drawbacks is very strong and the Thai people are starting to realise that.

This story is closely being watched by millions and may i remind you an election is coming up in the not too far future?

Some parties are going to use the anti corruption angle,great oppertunity to show they are serious.

You've focused on the major point, ie that inappropriate deference is now being widely noticed.

 

Actually having seen the video nothing too unusual was going on here.There's no reason why the police had to be impolite and I don't think they were being servile, just Thai good manners.

 

But a new wind is blowing...