Migrants in Mahachai live in fear of police extortion

By Kornrawee Panyasuppakun 
The Nation

 

File photo // The Nation Photo

 

MYANMAR MIGRANTS in Samut Sakhon’s Mahachai district are living in terror that they may become a target of police extortion.

 

Ko Ko Naing, a Myanmar national working for the Labour Rights Promotion Network Foundation (LPN), recounted that he himself nearly landed in jail once when police suddenly handcuffed him for allegedly gambling. 

 

“Fortunately, my boss helped me out,” he said, referring to LPN director Sompong Srakaew, who has been trying to protect other migrant workers too.

 

 

Headquartered in Mahachai, which is widely known as “Little Myanmar” due to the huge presence of Myanmar workers, LPN has dealt with many complaints about migrants being extorted or threatened. 

 

Ko Ko Naing said some migrants get into trouble for just playing a game of takraw. 

 

“They get accused of gambling even while playing sports. So, to avoid trouble, some pay Bt3,000 to these so-called police officers,” Ko Ko Naing said. 

 

Illegal migrants are often the first to offer a bribe, as they are worried they might get deported if the case is taken to court. 

 

Kyaw Lim Oo, another Myanmar national at LPN, said police often stop Myanmar migrants and demand they produce their documentation and mobile phones, and even show them their social-media account. 

 

“And if they find some numbers in a social-media post, then they accuse the migrants of playing the underground lottery,” he said. 

 

Such practices reportedly exist even though the Criminal Code’s Article 148 imposes strict punishment, including life imprisonment and/or fine against corrupt officers or those abusing their authority. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30357621

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-01

Obviously the next target area to clean up for Big Joke !!

Illegals out & corrupt officers out !!

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Criminal Code’s Article 148 imposes strict punishment, including life imprisonment and/or fine against corrupt officers

Life in prison for corrupt police officers? Now that would make a huge dent in police numbers, from the top to the bottom. Is there one who is not corrupt?

Every business in Pattaya fears the same; except those owned by police!

Sadly there is no-one reading this that will question its veracity. In all the years I have been here its been a known situation and absolutely nothing has been done to change that fact. Its also one of the most talked about things among Thais and Falangs, gets a mention with every change of govt and is written about every few months in the news. But still nothing changes and their leaders sit in govt.

How many jails needed for Criminal acts by Corrupt police ? Would need them built at the same rate as Shopping mall construction!

 

 

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