4th army region to sue a Phuket hotel’s management of defamation

[webfact]

4th army region to sue a Phuket hotel’s management of defamation

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Fourth Army Region has threatened to sue the management of a hotel on Phuket’s Patong beach and a person who posted a video clip in the social media purportedly implying that a group of army officers went to the hotel to extort money from the management.

 

Deputy commander of the 25th infantry battalion of the 2nd regiment, claimed that he and a few army officers went to the hotel on Patong beach in Kathu district to investigate a complaint filed to him by a former employee of the hotel that he was unfairly dismissed by the management after he took 5-day business leave.

 

Lt-Col Surasak said that he found out that his meeting with the management to discuss the former employee’s complaint was secretly video-taped and clip of the tape was posted on the social media accusing him of extorting money from the hotel.

Full story:  http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/4th-army-region-sue-phuket-hotels-management-defamation/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-04-02

[Get Real]

Due to that we can´t see the video, it must have some bearing in the case, right?

 

[kannot]

I always  like seeing the army in their play   clothes.

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

claimed that he and a few army officers went to the hotel on Patong beach in Kathu district to investigate a complaint filed to him by a former employee of the hotel that he was unfairly dismissed by the management after he took 5-day business leave.

this is the job of the army ? 

[Darcula]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

a few army officers went to the hotel on Patong beach in Kathu district to investigate a complaint filed to him by a former employee of the hotel that he was unfairly dismissed

 

Another uniformed forces sideline business, just like strong-arm debt collecting.

 

[LivinginKata]

It was only a matter of time before the army got on the gravy train. Now businesses have to 'pay' local government officials, BiB, and now army. 

[mark01]

Another rediculus abuse of a flawed defamation law.

It's become the go-to get-off-the-hook tool.

 

Shameful that the law protects the people that abuse it.

 

[SpokaneAl]

“Deputy commander of the 25th infantry battalion of the 2nd regiment” went to the hotel to investigate an employee/employer issue. 

 

Seems a bit out out of their wheelhouse of national security expertise.

[barefootbangkok]

A good defense is a good offense!

[jobwolf]

It is always perfect to know whom to complain to.

I need to buy a uniform.

[ronaldo0]

So the army went to help out a guy who got fired from a hotel ??

The guy must be someone special to get the army to roll up on his behalf !

Or he's related to one of them .

Edited April 2, 2018 by ronaldo0

[klauskunkel]

Once you wear the uniform, you have become automatically an expert in everything under the sun. Don't take it off.

[natway09]

If it has been secretly put on video it should be an open & shut case.

Scare tactics come to mind

[GarryP]

Just now, natway09 said:

If it has been secretly put on video it should be an open & shut case.

Scare tactics come to mind

Thai defamation laws do not protect against facts.  If what you say about someone is harmful to their reputation,  whether or not it is true, it constitutes defamation. 

 

The law on defamation needs removing from the criminal statutes and limited to civil cases only. Also, truth should be a valid defense.  At the moment, the laws are used to gag others.  

[chuang]

Sending a 2nd commander of an infantry to check on a "wrongful dismissal".....

[Belzybob]

Presumably the dismissal involved the chocolate soldier's family or a friend of the family.

[sebastion]

4th human resources infantry division.

Its frightening.

 

 

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[webfact]

Probe into military officers in viral video, while spokesman says no bribes involved

By Salinee Prap, 
Nakarin Chinworakomon, 
Jitraporn Senwong 
The Nation

 

Representatives of the Fourth Army Region filed a police complaint with Phuket’s Patong Police Station on Monday over a video clip of three military officers meeting with a Phuket hotel executive on March 27, while a fact-finding probe has been launched into the officers’ actions.
 

The clip, which has been circulating among Thai social media users, has been described as a slanderous and bribe-demanding move. Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 has claimed the clip was partially doctored, and sends a false message with an obvious intent to tarnish the image of state officers and the Fourth Army Region.

 

Provincial Police Region 8 chief Maj-General Theerapol Thipcharoen said he had told the Patong precinct head to conduct a probe to find whether there were inappropriate actions involving the two police guarding the hotel executive as seen in the 4-minute-long clip over inappropriate actions. The investigators are to report back within seven days.

 

National police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda separately affirmed that the two officers were the subject of a fact-finding probe and would be transferred and face a disciplinary probe if found guilty.

 

ISOC Region 4 spokesman Colonel Pramote Phrom-in told a press conference that the officers seen on the clip were performing their duties under the all-powerful Article 44 of the interim charter and the National Council for Peace and Order's No.13/2559 order regarding a crackdown on influential figures.

 

He said the officers, led by Second Lieutenant Wattanachai Khlongpradit of the 25th Infantry Regiment, contacted the hotel executive to inform him that a special task team of the Fourth Army Region, led by Lieutenant Colonel Surasak Peungyaem, would soon investigate a staff member’s complaint. That complaint involved accusations that the executive and others had threatened and pressured the employee to quit his job and caused him to fear for his own safety, said Pramote.

 

The executive did not cooperate, said Pramote. When Surasak demanded an explanation, the executive said he would provide the explanation backed with document evidence later on Monday, said Pramote.

 

“Officers just performed their duties and didn’t assault, use force or demand any bribe nor benefits,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30342269

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-02

[webfact]

Phuket hotel faces defamation charges over Army extortion claims

Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Col Surasak (2nd from right) at the meeting at the hotel in Patong on March 27, as seen in the video posted online. Image: Screengrab

 

PHUKET: The Commander of Royal Thai Army Region 4 base, which covers all of Southern Thailand, has confirmed that he has ordered army litigation officers to move ahead with filing a complaint of defamation with police against the management of a hotel on Patong.

 

The move follows the hotel management and a “concerned party” posting a video clip on social media claiming that a group of army officers went to the hotel to extort money from the hotel management, Fourth Army Region Commander Lt Gen Piyawat Narkvanich told the press yesterday (April 1).

 

Gen Piyawat said he had already received written clarification from Lt Col Surasak Peungyeam, Deputy Commander of the 25th Military Circle, which is based in Phuket, about the incident.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-hotel-faces-defamation-charges-over-army-extortion-claims-66609.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-04-02

[webfact]

Military denies bribery after video goes viral

By By Salinee Prap, 
Nakarin Chinworakomon, 
Jitraporn Senwong, 
Suriya Patathayo 
The Nation

 

 

Representatives of the Fourth Army Region filed a police complaint with Phuket’s Patong Police Station on Monday over a video clip showing three military officers meeting a Phuket hotel executive on March 27, while an investigation has been launched into the actions of two police officers seen guarding the executive.

 

The clip, which has been circulating on social media, has been described as depicting the military officers’ alleged attempt to demand a bribe from Patong Paragon Hotel executive Visith Eiumvirojrit. 

 

The clip shows three Army officers accusing Visith of violating the law and acting as an “influential figure” and engaging in a verbal argument. 

 

Many social media users have speculated that the officers were pressuring the man in order to then demand a bribe from him.

 

Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 staff have claimed the clip was doctored to deceive the public with the intent to tarnish the image of military officers and the Fourth Army Region.

 

 

Phuket police chief Maj-General Theerapol Thipcharoen said he had told Patong police superintendent to conduct an investigation into whether there had been inappropriate acts committed by two police officers seen guarding Visith in the four-minute clip. 

 

There are allegations that the officers were inappropriately providing services to a man whom the Fourth Army Region aimed to probe whether he were a dark influential figure. The investigation is supposed to conclude within seven days. 

 

National police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda separately affirmed that the two police officers – whom Provincial Police Region 8 chief Pol Lt-General Sorasak Yenprem had already transferred to inactive post pending a fact-finding probe result – would face disciplinary action if found guilty.

 

Isoc Region 4 spokesman Colonel Pramote Phrom-in told a press conference that the three military officers seen on the clip were performing their duties under Article 44 and the National Council for Peace and Order orders regarding a crackdown on “influential figures”. Article 44, which is enshrined in the interim charter, gives Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha near-absolute powers.

 

Pramote said the military officers, led by Second Lieutenant Wattanachai Khlongpradit of the 25th Infantry Regiment, had contacted the hotel executive to tell him that a special taskforce of the Fourth Army Region, led by Lt-Colonel Surasak Peungyaem, would investigate a staff member’s complaint.

 

The employee allegedly had told authorities that Visith and others had threatened him and pressured him to quit his job.

 

Pramote said the executive had told officers he would provide an explanation backed with documentary evidence later on Monday. 

 

“Officers just performed their duties and did not assault [the man], use force or demand any bribes nor benefits,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30342269

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-02

[PremiumLane]

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

The investigation is supposed to conclude within seven days. 

sit around for 6 days then flick through the 'Big Bumper Book of Excuses' and pick one - job done

[4MyEgo]

All a misunderstanding boys, we were not moving in on your turf, just making our selves look as if we were doing something, Wai and we are on our way because we don't want our top brass transferring us to inactive posts as well.

 

Edited April 3, 2018 by 4MyEgo

[NamKangMan]

On 4/2/2018 at 1:51 PM, chuang said:

Sending a 2nd commander of an infantry to check on a "wrongful dismissal".....

 

And he couldn't even get the done properly. 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2018 by NamKangMan