Bangkok traffic officer arrested and suspended for alleged extortion

[webfact]

Bangkok traffic officer arrested and suspended for alleged extortion

By The Nation

 

A traffic police officer in Bangkok has been arrested and suspended from service after he allegedly demanded Bt10,000 from a young motorcyclist in exchange for not pursuing traffic violation charges.

 

Pol Lance Corporal Chalermchai Yodkaew, 27, a traffic policeman with Vibhavadi Police Station was arrested at 3pm on Monday in a sting operation when he appeared to receive money from a 16-year-old motorcyclist.

 

On Tuesday, Metropolitan Police commissioner Pol Lt-General Charnthep Sesawet said he had instructed traffic police chief Pol Maj-General Thirasak Suriwong to conduct an investigation of Chalermchai, who had allegedly committed a severe disciplinary violation.

 

Chalermchai is also facing corruption and extortion charges pursued by the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and Sutthisarn Police Station.

 

Charnthep said the officer was immature and just wearing the uniform without “having the spirit of a police officer”.

 

He added that he had ordered the policeman suspended pending the results of investigations.

 

Chalermchai was arrested at Sutthisarn Police Station with 10 Bt1,000 banknotes that had been marked in the sting operation.

 

The young motorcyclist, who remained unidentified, said he had been stopped by Chalermchai at Lard Prao Intersection on February 1. The policeman found that the teenager had not paid his annual motorcycle registration, did not have an insurance policy and was not wearing a helmet.

 

Chalermchai allegedly demanded Bt20,000 from the teenager in exchange for letting him go, but the boy did not have enough money so the officer impounded his motorcycle.

 

The teenager then filed a complaint with the PACC and Sutthisarn Police Station, which planned the sting operation, in which the boy bargained for a reduction to Bt10,000 and asked the officer to receive the money at Sutthisarn Intersection.

 

There is widespread perception in society that police officers routinely accept bribes in exchange for forgiving traffic violations.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30340824

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-13

[Thaiwrath]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Charnthep said the officer was immature and just wearing the uniform without “having the spirit of a police officer”.

Quite a good description for a lot of them !

[darksidedog]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Charnthep said the officer was immature and just wearing the uniform without “having the spirit of a police officer”.

I would suspect the same could be said for the majority of the force along with the comment that they are also perceived as routinely taking bribes in exchange for forgiving traffic violations.

 

 

[PatOngo]

There is widespread perception in society that police officers routinely accept bribes in exchange for forgiving traffic violations.

 

Must be a perception.......otherwise it would shine a bad light on the reputation of the country! 

[TVGerry]

There's corruption and then there's stupidity. Extorting a few hundred baht is one thing. But 10,000? From a teenager? Of course the kid would file a complaint! He can't afford not to!

[Tilacme]

37 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

Quite a good description for a lot of them !

My initial reaction was to agree with you but, it appears that he fell foul of an internal sting. If so, that is a good thing!

[rkidlad]

Asking a 16 year old on a motorbike for 10,000 baht - not the sharpest tool in the box this officer. Guess his idea of being a copper was just putting on his uniform and walking out into the public with his hand out. 

[HLover]

Guessing the 16 year old was a male because a female would have been asked for more than 10,000 thb.

[RichardColeman]

Good life. Sleep in a a booth all morning and then go out and make 10,000 baht in the afternoon !

[SooKee]

Maybe the headline should be: Bangkok traffic officer arrested and suspended for alleged excessive extortion.

[Bangkok Barry]

14 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Asking a 16 year old on a motorbike for 10,000 baht - not the sharpest tool in the box this officer. Guess his idea of being a copper was just putting on his uniform and walking out into the public with his hand out. 

 

He actually asked him for 20,000, which led to the teenager filing a complaint.

[Bangkok Barry]

14 hours ago, HLover said:

Guessing the 16 year old was a male because a female would have been asked for more than 10,000 thb.

 

Read the report. The policeman asked for 20,000.

[Bangkok Barry]

If Thailand disbanded its police force it would probably cut crime by 90 percent.

[ostyan]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

the officer was immature and just wearing the uniform without “having the spirit of a police officer”.

I have been living in Thailand for eight years and I difficulties to understand this

[rkidlad]

59 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

He actually asked him for 20,000, which led to the teenager filing a complaint.

Okay, 20,000.

 

Well done. 

[HLover]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Read the report. The policeman asked for 20,000.

Meh, that's not the point.

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, ostyan said:

I have been living in Thailand for eight years and I difficulties to understand this

Stick around, you'll get it eventually!

[PAIBKK]

One down, 99,999 to go !!!

[justinnsamui]

1 down, 229,000 to go.....

[mike324]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Charnthep said the officer was immature and just wearing the uniform without “having the spirit of a police officer”.

What a joke, being corrupt is called "immature" ?

[anon789561]

On 3/13/2018 at 8:04 AM, TVGerry said:

There's corruption and then there's stupidity. Extorting a few hundred baht is one thing. But 10,000? From a teenager? Of course the kid would file a complaint! He can't afford not to!

you have a strange view on life that those that are young have no money. think that through as many have. maybe you didn't or don't but many do be they thai or otherwise. just saying

[marcenefowler]

It's like happenning in every SE countries. That's the way the police get richer and richer 

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Did this and all other officer pay for their position in the police force? If yes, then he does the same as all other cops here and is working on his ROI.

 

Until they change and reform the basic system of cops paying for their positions, corruption will never end. It's all about profit, that's the only spirit embraced by these crooks.

[TVGerry]

10 hours ago, Happy enough said:

you have a strange view on life that those that are young have no money. think that through as many have. maybe you didn't or don't but many do be they thai or otherwise. just saying

Not all teenagers are poor but if you can't pay your annual motorcycle registration and insurance, it's unlikely you'll be able to afford a 10k bribe, be you Thai or otherwise. Just saying.

[Redline]

First time I’ve heard of an officer being arrested and not just transferred 

[anon789561]

2 hours ago, TVGerry said:

Not all teenagers are poor but if you can't pay your annual motorcycle registration and insurance, it's unlikely you'll be able to afford a 10k bribe, be you Thai or otherwise. Just saying.

if he's like many teenagers i know he's probably just too lazy to sort his registration out but then maybe he couldn't afford it too