Police general to be charged over lottery probe

By Marisa chimprabha 
The Nation

 

 

A SENIOR POLICE officer in Kanchanaburi province, who was transferred to Bangkok pending an investigation into his handling of the much-publicised Bt30-million lottery scandal, will be charged with dereliction of duty.

 

Pol Maj-General Suthi Puangpikul will be the only officer facing the charge while two other police investigators will become witnesses, anti-corruption police commander Pol Maj-General Kamol Rienracha said yesterday.

 

He was speaking at a press conference presided over by national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda.

 

Suthi was the chief investigator probing the dispute between teacher Preecha Kraikruan and retired police officer Charoon Wimon over ownership of the Bt30-million winning lottery ticket.

 

Suthi was accused of taking sides with Preecha who claimed he had bought the winning tickets but lost them. He has about 40 witnesses, including the vendor who had sold him the tickets, to support his claim. Charoon, however, said he could not remember the vendor from whom he had bought the ticket.

 

Suthi allegedly called both sides to meet in his house and acted as a mediator to settle the case.

 

Suthi’s office had in January revealed that the lottery tickets belonged to the teacher, based on witness accounts. Charoon then filed a complaint with Chakthip alleging unfairnesss and injustice. Chakthip then assigned Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Bangkok to take over the case.

 

The CIB investigation led to the order to transfer Suthi to the police headquarters in Bangkok to ensure fairness and transparency in the investigation.

 

In the transfer order, two investigators told the CIB team that Suthi had allegedly ordered them to change investigation information, including witness accounts, to support Preecha’s claim of ownership of the tickets.

 

Speaking at the same press conference, CIB commissioner Pol Lt-General Thitirat Nongharnpitak said Suthi’s “low maturity and inexperience” had resulted in his mishandling of the case.

 

“Suthi did not handle the case with any ulterior motive but he followed his own belief that the tickets belonged to the teacher. That was wrong, as police have to follow evidence. He acted that way because of his low maturity and inexperience,” Thitirat said.

 

He was not guilt until he changed the investigation information, he said.

 

Police have not yet revealed the legitimate owner of the tickets. But their arrest of the teacher and the ticket vendor for filing false information against Charoon, implied that the tickets belonged to the retired policeman.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340609

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-10

12 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

A SENIOR POLICE officer in Kanchanaburi province, who was transferred to Bangkok pending an investigation into his handling of the much-publicised Bt30-million lottery scandal, will be charged with dereliction of duty.

small step , but one in the right direction of some police seriously looking at other police

Police general to be charged !! Well thats a first.

Many more senior police should be charged with dereliction of duty, as it happens almost daily.

Edited March 10, 20188 yr by colinneil

Here we have the police who have virtually no public trust making a statement that no-one believes without anyone mentioning their disbelief in their findings. There was, of course, never an intention to get hold of some of this big sum. Perish the thought. 

Edited March 10, 20188 yr by Lungstib
spelling error

22 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Pol Lt-General Thitirat Nongharnpitak said Suthi’s “low maturity and inexperience” had resulted in his mishandling of the case.

Suthi was a police Major-General with "low maturity and inexperience"? A Major-General is a fairly high ranking (4th in the pecking order) equivalent to a Commissioner. How on earth did he get to that level if he had those poor qualities? Sorry silly question. But someone higher up at some time must have accepted a generous gift and promoted him accordingly. 

Corrupt through to the top echelon.

Thai Police General  "low maturity and inexperience"

 

From the horses mouth

7 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

Suthi was a police Major-General with "low maturity and inexperience"?

As you can see from his photo, an obvious example of youth and inexperience. Just a boy.

30 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

Here we have the police who have virtually no public trust making a statement that no-one believes without anyone mentioning their disbelief in their findings. There was, of course, never an intention to get hold of some of this big sum. Perish the thought. 

Better chance of getting some "reward" money via the ex-cop than the teacher. Even though Preecha the teacher had 40 witnesses and ex-cop Charoon had none. Couldn't even remember where he purchased the ticket. Something not making sense here.

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

He acted that way because of his low maturity and inexperience,

Just one question. How is it possible that he reached the level of Pol Major General based on thoose fine qualifications?

2 minutes ago, Get Real said:

Just one question. How is it possible that he reached the level of Pol Major General based on thoose fine qualifications?

How did he reach level of Major General?

The answer is easy, he handed over some very large envelopes.

5 hours ago, Cadbury said:

Better chance of getting some "reward" money via the ex-cop than the teacher. Even though Preecha the teacher had 40 witnesses and ex-cop Charoon had none. Couldn't even remember where he purchased the ticket. Something not making sense here.

 

IMHO if it was an ex Army officer versus the teacher, there would be no prizes for guessing who would win.

 

However as it was an ex policeman with no witnesses versus a teacher with 40, it was obvious from the start who would be the winner.

They all look guilty to me must be a epaulets and badge thing .

12 hours ago, YetAnother said:

small step , but one in the right direction of some police seriously looking at other police

This guy was transferred because he was supporting the teacher. The police were looking at a former police officer to see how big an envelop they will receive if they "find" evidence supporting the former officer's claim. Surely he knows how the system works.

12 hours ago, Cadbury said:

Suthi was a police Major-General with "low maturity and inexperience"? A Major-General is a fairly high ranking (4th in the pecking order) equivalent to a Commissioner. How on earth did he get to that level if he had those poor qualities? Sorry silly question. But someone higher up at some time must have accepted a generous gift and promoted him accordingly. 

Corrupt through to the top echelon.

Cadbury gets it...this is not a case of police looking at police to do the right thing. This is a senior police officer being penalized for not falling in line and supporting part of the police family. He tried to do the right thing and is now in trouble while the anti corruption enforcement committee sits like big dumb monkeys on the sidelines collecting their own envelopes.

12 hours ago, Lungstib said:

As you can see from his photo, an obvious example of youth and inexperience. Just a boy.

 

 

There is a boy in every (police) man.

 

 

Edited March 10, 20188 yr by maximillian

12 hours ago, rooster59 said:

as police have to follow evidence.

 

Has anyone watched the TV series "Counterpart", clearly the Pol Lt Gen lives on the other side.

12 hours ago, Cadbury said:

Suthi was a police Major-General with "low maturity and inexperience"? A Major-General is a fairly high ranking (4th in the pecking order) equivalent to a Commissioner. How on earth did he get to that level if he had those poor qualities? Sorry silly question. But someone higher up at some time must have accepted a generous gift and promoted him accordingly. 

Corrupt through to the top echelon.

No Thai would do that (accept a generous gift)

This is my ticket I lose it sorry I joke 

But I think all this is about Thailand try become no. 1 of the most corrupt country 

Thailand like to be no. 1 in every thing 

Remember guys write your name on your tickets 

14 hours ago, colinneil said:

Police general to be charged !! Well thats a first.

Many more senior police should be charged with dereliction of duty, as it happens almost daily.

 

Your evidence of this broad statement is where?

2 minutes ago, pearciderman said:

 

Your evidence of this broad statement is where?

Do you never read the news??

If you did you would not make crazy comments.

An off topic post has been removed. 

7 hours ago, chama said:

Cadbury gets it...this is not a case of police looking at police to do the right thing. This is a senior police officer being penalized for not falling in line and supporting part of the police family. He tried to do the right thing and is now in trouble while the anti corruption enforcement committee sits like big dumb monkeys on the sidelines collecting their own envelopes.

I think that I agree with your analysis.

 

In a way it is similar to the case of the "hit and run" lady and how that whole thing was turned on its head.

 

I knew a Thai man who was caught up in police generated moils and toils which  turned out to be an absolute nightmare for almost seven years before he walked free but-most assuredly-not forgotten.

Unbelievable, makes people wonder how safe it is here in Thailand

The good thing is that they(police) go public, the bad thing is that the majority of people losing faith in their protect and serve brigade day by day, and in some case just ignore and attack them..............pretty disturbing case if you ask me.

Need separate branch to police the police, never happen.....