snoop1130 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Five Africans arrested with fake visas By Suriya Patathayo The Nation Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn on Wednesday announced the successful arrest of five African men allegedly involved in visa-forging to stay in Thailand. Surachate also revealed that a Police Senior Sergeant Major at the bureau, whose name was not released, was accused of and reportedly confessed to stamping the forged documents for the suspects in exchange for a payment of Bt5,000 per head. The officer was temporarily dismissed from the force, pending a disciplinary probe and criminal investigation, Surachate said. The police said they would check for more accomplices, including a middleman who brought in the foreigners' documents to receive the forged visas. Surachate said the five foreigners arrested over the forged visa were Olawale Raimi, 33, from Nigeria; Jonas Silva, 39, from Guinea-Bissau; Riches Obbonna Onu, 44, from Nigeria; Tshepo Zuma, 37, from South Africa; and Ouattara Ben Ibrahim, 21, from Ivory Coast. These five men were among the 12 suspects - found to have been carrying one or two passports with the same photos but with different names and details. The police said they would hunt for the other seven suspects later, Surachate said. Surachate affirmed that his bureau would coordinate with the Department of Consular Affairs to prevent criminals from entering Thailand, employ technology such as retina and facial scanners, and amend the Immigration Act to cover all aspects to boost the visitor-screening efficiency. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30361919 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-1-9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayduke Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 The t-shirts gave them away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaiwrath Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 8 minutes ago, snoop1130 said: a Police Senior Sergeant Major at the bureau, whose name was not released, was accused of and reportedly confessed to stamping the forged documents for the suspects in exchange for a payment of Bt5,000 per head. I would imagine there are plenty more, like him, dotted round the immigration offices around the country, and also in other positions of authority. To eradicate corruption, you have to try and get rid of the lot, starting at the top ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackdd Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 This article is lacking crucial details to understand what happened. Visas were forged? Documents were forged? If you can forge a visa, why would you need to forge documents? How can an IO inside Thailand issue a visa, that's done outside of Thailand? An IO confessed to breaking the law, accepted bribes and "was temporarily dismissed", so next week back to work as usual? The Nation should try to improve the quality of their articles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phuketshrew Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 So they can name and shame the foreigners but can't name the Police Senior Sergeant Major at the bureau, who reportedly confessed to stamping the forged documents for the suspects in exchange for a payment of Bt5,000 per head? Which is the more serious crime? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcatcher Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 1 hour ago, jackdd said: How can an IO inside Thailand issue a visa, that's done outside of Thailand? Surely a crooked Immigration officer can obtain forged visas, which after all are usually only printed on special paper and stuck into passports, and also forged identification documents for the good African gentlemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mok199 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 6 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said: So they can name and shame the foreigners but can't name the Police Senior Sergeant Major at the bureau, who reportedly confessed to stamping the forged documents for the suspects in exchange for a payment of Bt5,000 per head? Which is the more serious crime? Correct , many of us know who the real criminals are in LOS...3 weeks and not a word about the off duty cop who shot and killed the French man in cold blood viewed by all on CCTV.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roo860 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Correct , many of us know who the real criminals are in LOS...3 weeks and not a word about the off duty cop who shot and killed the French man in cold blood viewed by all on CCTV....Probably nothing else to report .Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackdd Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 11 minutes ago, ratcatcher said: Surely a crooked Immigration officer can obtain forged visas, which after all are usually only printed on special paper and stuck into passports, and also forged identification documents for the good African gentlemen. But embassies / consulates which sell these visas are under the ministry of foreign affairs, i don't really see how somebody in the immigration bureau has access to them (unless of course somebody from the ministry of foreign affairs was involved as well) And then there is a high chance that it would raise suspicion when they leave Thailand. They would have a visa sticker at the page after their entry stamp to Thailand which was obtained while they were in Thailand, so the chance that this would be discovered is quite high, i doubt they are so dumb. So i think there is a good chance that all this is actually not about visas, but about extensions, then it would be very interesting what exactly happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattayadgw Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Keep looking you will find many many more :)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 2 hours ago, jackdd said: This article is lacking crucial details to understand what happened. Visas were forged? Documents were forged? If you can forge a visa, why would you need to forge documents? How can an IO inside Thailand issue a visa, that's done outside of Thailand? An IO confessed to breaking the law, accepted bribes and "was temporarily dismissed", so next week back to work as usual? The Nation should try to improve the quality of their articles Perhaps they changed their visa status here in Thailand and the IO issued them with a Non O. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justgrazing Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I reckon the middle dude has been studying the Thai's by giving it some Wai action in an effort to get off with it .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I like the temporarily dismissed bit best about this story it kind of sums everything up with Thailand right now???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 1 minute ago, sammieuk1 said: I like the temporarily dismissed bit best about this story it kind of sums everything up with Thailand right now???? Yes, I've seen that phrase used in other news reports recently. I wonder if perhaps they might mean 'suspended without pay'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 5000 baht to stamp it? cost 5 times that going through an agent with legitimate paperwork. seems officer doing the stamping was not up to current prices ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, bluesofa said: Yes, I've seen that phrase used in other news reports recently. I wonder if perhaps they might mean 'suspended without pay'? Nah, inactive post until he repays his debt ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
car720 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Out of Africa, now Out of Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metisdead Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 A troll post has been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oziex1 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Don't forget the signs at immigration say no tips. Bribes and donations for criminal action is AOK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisY1 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Big Joke should keep to dark skinned illegals and move well away from the refugee scene.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaichiro Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 12 hours ago, Phuketshrew said: So they can name and shame the foreigners but can't name the Police Senior Sergeant Major at the bureau, who reportedly confessed to stamping the forged documents for the suspects in exchange for a payment of Bt5,000 per head? Which is the more serious crime? What part of “under investigation” escapes your fevered mind? You don’t shame someone until you can be certain of the facts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangkoken Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 14 hours ago, Thaiwrath said: I would imagine there are plenty more, like him, dotted round the immigration offices around the country, and also in other positions of authority. To eradicate corruption, you have to try and get rid of the lot, starting at the top ! Starting at the top? Did you mean the esteemed Prime Minister Prayut Chan O Cha? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phitsanulokjohn Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 14 hours ago, Thaiwrath said: I would imagine there are plenty more, like him, dotted round the immigration offices around the country, and also in other positions of authority. To eradicate corruption, you have to try and get rid of the lot, starting at the top ! But fear not.BJ's gonna weed out all the bent ones soon. Loves a bit of promotion does BJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken George Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Does not Thaivisa advertise this visa service? No funds needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metisdead Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 2 minutes ago, Chicken George said: Does not Thaivisa advertise this visa service? No funds needed? I don't think so, the ad you are probably seeing is most likely posted by of which Thai Visa has no control of, the power of Google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmitch Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 15 hours ago, Thaiwrath said: I would imagine there are plenty more, like him, dotted round the immigration offices around the country, and also in other positions of authority. To eradicate corruption, you have to try and get rid of the lot, starting at the top ! Imagine the queues at Immigration with only two officers on duty, both trainees! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burma Bill Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Must have been bought on the Black Market!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watso63 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Good job, keep it up???????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesetat2013 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 14 hours ago, Phuketshrew said: So they can name and shame the foreigners but can't name the Police Senior Sergeant Major at the bureau, who reportedly confessed to stamping the forged documents for the suspects in exchange for a payment of Bt5,000 per head? Which is the more serious crime? If they named him.. think of all the illegals in Thailand that would be seeking his help for their visas? A little common sense please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wcoast Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 The visas could have been real, but altered.Sent from my SM-A910F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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