Corruption is funny

From this weeks FARANG AFFAIRS:

QUOTE:

Nigel Pike, who lives in vibrant Takua Pa down Phang Nga way, has been doing something we have been meaning to do for years. Collecting quotes from police, government officials and various other servants of the public.

We share some of the rewards of his diligence below, starting with the ones Nigel personally experienced at the hands of officialdom:

Police

On being issued a ticket for speeding:

“If there are police, you must slow down. If there are no police, you can drive as fast as you like.”

After getting stopped doing an illegal U-turn on Sukhumvit Road, and a bit tardy getting his wallet out. The policeman chided him, as if talking to an errant child:

“If you’re going to bribe me, you should do it BEFORE I write the ticket, not AFTER.”

Customs, Bangkok Int’l Airport

After a lengthy but friendly discussion as to whether duty was payable on a large digitiser he was bringing in from Hong Kong:

“If you don’t want to give me any money, you don’t have to. But if you would like to give me some, that’s fine.”

After another lengthy but friendly discussion as to whether duty was payable on a drum kit that he was bringing in from Hong Kong:

“Have you got any money for me? Say ‘Yes’.”

(He gave both the above officers Bt500.)

--Farang affairs, The Nation 2004-05-14

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.news....ess=1&id=113599

Classic's aren't they George

I got stopped for going through a light that had just turned red, just nid noi see dang. After the police checked my driver's licence, I handed him a prosecutor's business card. On the back, it said please call me so I can translate. The guy looked at it, and said, you don't want a ticket. I said no. He said go on your way. I said thank you. The prosecutor hates the corrupt police by the way.