Two Bangkok police officers face probe for forcing subordinates to pay for air-cons

[webfact]

Two police officers face probe for forcing subordinates to pay for air-cons

By Thai PBS

 

The Metropolitan Police Division 2 has set up a fact finding committee to investigate after junior police officers at Phaholyothin police station complained that their per diems were deducted by their immediate boss to pay the installation air-conditioners at the inquiry room.

 

The order by Pol Maj Gen Ekkachai Bunvisoot, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 2 came after Pol Sgt Maj Lersak Nonkhuthod, of Phaholyothin police station lodged a complaint with the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, asking the agency to investigate the alleged malpractice of his supervisors.

 

Acccording to the complaint, 11 junior police officers at the station were deducted of 2,000-4,000 baht from their per diems by the investigation inspectors for use to buy and install air conditioners in the inquiry room.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/two-police-officers-face-probe-forcing-subordinates-pay-air-cons/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-03-29

[George Bowman]

I can remember a Thai lady on the staff where I worked, who held a management position. She did a great job and was well-liked by the staff and the public. It was hoped that she would stay on for years.

 

But, she only worked with us for one year. Unfortunately, her husband was a policeman (a detective of some sort) and had found another position elsewhere on the Thai police force. This couple had saved B100,000 over the course of two years in order to pay for the advancement. He had wanted a different position closer to home, but it was too expensive.  

 

The lady said that it was unfair and that people should be chosen for their abilities and not money...

[YetAnother]

15 minutes ago, missoura said:

I can remember a Thai lady on the staff where I worked, who held a management position. She did a great job and was well-liked by the staff and the public. It was hoped that she would stay on for years.

 

But, she only worked with us for one year. Unfortunately, her husband was a policeman (a detective of some sort) and had found another position elsewhere on the Thai police force. This couple had saved B100,000 over the course of two years in order to pay for the advancement. He had wanted a different position closer to home, but it was too expensive.  

 

The lady said that it was unfair and that people should be chosen for their abilities and not money...

good story, pity it is that way; 

thailand is such a long way from a meritocracy; goes a long way explaining why the place is such a mess; such a large percentage of wrong people in the wrong jobs

[colinneil]

Why are the junior officers complaining?

Bosses obviously thought that they had some spare money from the bribes they got from the public.

[anon537687643]

I know that Thais who required to wear the company uniform working in retail shops have to pay for the shirt/dress with the company logo on! And these are international brand companies, but as usual franchises so they can basically do what they want! It’s 19 century workers rights in Thailand

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[Expatthailover]

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

good story, pity it is that way; 

thailand is such a long way from a meritocracy; goes a long way explaining why the place is such a mess; such a large percentage of wrong people in the wrong jobs

Thailand is a developing country.

These things are a curse in all such countries even biggies like china and russia.

Other than maybe a dozen or so countries the lamenting of a lack of a meritocracy is naivety at its finest.

Jarad Kutchner anyone.

Expats CHOOSE to live in and tourists visit countries like thailand because they are cheap.

If corruption  is unpalatable you have chosen the wrong place to live in or visit. 

[webfact]

Policeman up in arms over paying for office AC

By The Nation

 

 

A junior policeman is crying foul over his supervisors’ demand that he contribute money for the purchase of a new air-conditioner at their police station.

 

Pol Sgt-Major 3rd Class Lersak Nonkhuntod, who works at the Phaholyothin Police Station in Bangkok, lodged a complaint with both the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Office of Public-Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). 

 

Due to the complaint, senior police officers launched an investigation into the air-conditioner episode.

 

The PACC has also promised to look into his complaint. 

 

 

“I was not willing to give up my allowances for the air-conditioner. Throughout my career, I had never been required to pay for the maintenance of a government agency before,” Lersak said. 

 

He said given that his salary was not high, the demand for him to contribute financially for the purchase of a new air-conditioner was demoralising.

 

“I stand by my complaint,” he said. 

 

Realising that his complaint might have vitiated the atmosphere at his current police station, he said he was thinking of seeking a transfer or quitting police service.

 

Metropolitan Police Division 2 chief Pol Maj-General Ekachai Boonwisut said their investigation into Lersak’s complaint found that he was not alone in being asked to help pay for the air-conditioner that the two inspectors at Phaholyothin Police Station had installed at the station’s inquiry room. 

 

 

“Some policemen are willing to contribute. So, there must have been some misunderstanding,” Ekachai said. 

 

He added that Lersak would get back his money. 

 

“I don’t think there is any need to take disciplinary action. It’s just a misunderstanding,” Ekachai said. 

 

He said the case should not affect work at Phaholyothin Police Station, which is under his jurisdiction. 

 

According to Ekachai, two inspectors asked 11 junior policemen under their supervision to give up their allowances to enable the purchase of an air-conditioner. Lersak was the only one to disagree. 

 

“These two inspectors acted without consulting the station’s superintendent because they thought it was an internal affair of the interrogation division. The money was not used for their personal benefit,” Ekachai said. 

 

Eleven junior policemen gave up allowances amounting to a total of Bt25,000, while the new air-conditioner cost Bt33,000. 

“The two inspectors provided the balance Bt8,000,” Ekachai explained. 

 

He said the superintendent of Phaholyothin Police Station, Pol Colonel Ittichet Wonghomhuan, would seek a budget for the air-conditioner and return their money.

 

“I will ensure that my subordinates talk more to each other to achieve mutual understanding,” Ittichet said.

 

Pol General Jarumporn Suramanee, a member of the PACC board, said the PACC Branch 5 was now assigned to look into Lersak’s complaint. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30342030

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-30

[Thaiwrath]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

A junior policeman is crying foul over his supervisors’ demand that he contribute money for the purchase of a new air-conditioner at their police station.

Rather than printing air-conditioner, I think air-CON would have been more appropriate !

[metisdead]

An off topic post and a reply has been removed. 

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Some policemen are willing to contribute. So, there must have been some misunderstanding,” Ekachai said. 

thai logic; has Zero,Nada to do with understanding; this is the logical equivalent of asking a guy about the weather and he tells you about space travel

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

thai logic; has Zero,Nada to do with understanding; this is the logical equivalent of asking a guy about the weather and he tells you about space travel

 

And note his comments that the complainant will get his money back but no mention of the other contributors getting their money back.

 

Meaning that the whole plan to push juniors to pay for the air-con is OK.

 

By the way, why weren't the seniors asked to contribute?

 

 

[Lupatria]

I think the only thing stone cold here are the future career chances of a young officer.

[Katipo]

There's that word again, "misunderstanding". The funny thing is, whenever it's used (which seems to be more and more frequently these days), you can be sure it's anything but a misunderstanding. It's just a way for higher ups to avoid responsibility or admitting they are wrong (perhaps criminally so). 

[chrisinth]

The article classes K. Lersak as a 'junior policeman'. I would submit that as he is a Pol Sgt-Major 3rd Class that he has been round the block a couple of times.

IMO, he is well justified in refusing to maintain a government facility. Respect.............

[Ulic]

These police officers now know how the public feels about making "donations" to the BIB.

[rosst]

3 hours ago, Lupatria said:

I think the only thing stone cold here are the future career chances of a young officer.

Yes, and given the size of his kahounas, he may have amounted to something unlike the corrupt little toadies who coughed up by kissing arse and then extorted their constituents to get it back. 

What a sad commentary that even AFTER the investigation the superiors indicated there was no wrong doing, so much for their moral compass. 

Good luck in your new career young man and good for you not accepting that BS. 

[anon4637435435]

Police arent to bright then?

 

We had new water pipes put in along the road and were told we have to pay to fit our own pipes to our houses. After a little debate on ethics, responsibilities and such i decided i will do all the neighbours pipes myself. Pity i found out later its just cuz im a farang that i had to pay. They just didn't want to connect water to my house to be idiots. This same type of thing has happened consistently. I must say it wasnt unexpected but dam police should get over it. Farang get scammed even whilst being aware of it and are forced to deal with it because the police suck. What goes around comes around.

Anyway, are they thai? Shouldn't they be ok with the heat or are they so accustomed to living like there in the snow. I literally freeze in shops and so on here. I dont get it.

[rkidlad]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

“Some policemen are willing to contribute. So, there must have been some misunderstanding,”

Well here’s an idea; how about you put a tip box in the middle of the staff room. “All contributions welcome”. Then at the end of the month you can see how much is in there. Then there will be no misunderstandings. Only confusion there will be is why there’s no money in there. Did no one contribute or did someone steal the money inside? 

 

Even the mafia have a code of honour. 

[dutchweller]

On 3/29/2018 at 1:41 PM, markaoffy said:

I know that Thais who required to wear the company uniform working in retail shops have to pay for the shirt/dress with the company logo on! And these are international brand companies, but as usual franchises so they can basically do what they want! It’s 19 century workers rights in Thailand

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

Honda cars do just that.

I also had many an argument with the hotel HR where I previously worked about them forcing staff to pay a kitchen clog (cocs)  and they were to only buy from them at a inflated price...

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, Katipo said:

There's that word again, "misunderstanding". The funny thing is, whenever it's used (which seems to be more and more frequently these days), you can be sure it's anything but a misunderstanding. It's just a way for higher ups to avoid responsibility or admitting they are wrong (perhaps criminally so). 

 

Or are not in control.

 

Or are allowing / encouraging actions which are way outside of the overriding operational principles, etc.

 

 

 

[mickymouse1]

?

[fstarbkk]

The sad thing about this story is that K. Lersak, will probably spend the rest of his career writing parking tickets, in a particularly nasty corner of a southern province. 

[phil2407]

Must be a big interview room 

33k for air con which company (or family) do these people use? Just asking