Two immigration officers dismissed for visa-stamping travel documents they knew to be forged

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Two immigration officers dismissed for visa-stamping travel documents they knew to be forged

By The Nation

 

 

Two immigration police officers working at Suvarnabhumi Airport have been dismissed from the civil service over the stamping of visas in travel documents that they knew had been forged, something that they had confessed to having done 30 times, Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Surachet Hakpal told a press conference on Tuesday.

The dismissals stemmed from the earlier arrest of a 22-year-old man from Cameroon, Clinton Naseli, at the Songkhla border checkpoint over charges of forging and using fake visa documents, Surachet said. 

 

A subsequent investigation found that Immigration police officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport had keyed Naseli’s information into the Personal Identification Blacklist Immigration Control System without his actually having yet entered the Kingdom, he said. 

 

Immigration Division 2 in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district therefore filed a police complaint for legal action against the two accused officers – Pol Sgt-Major Noppadol Boonyawan, 36, and Pol Senior Sgt-Major Somyot Phumfongfoo, 38 – and their female accomplice, 37-year-old Pannita Suayngam, who allegedly collected orders and information from customers, who would pay Bt50,000 per head for forged travel documents, the Immigration Bureau chief explained.

 

Surachet added that since his landing the bureau’s top post last October, five immigration police officers – three at Don Mueang International Airport and the latest two at Suvarnabhumi Airport – and 37 “middle person” accomplices had been arrested over travel-document forgery, leading to the visas of some 200 foreigners being revoked.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30365224

 

 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-05

[colinthailand20005]

14 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

A subsequent investigation found that Immigration police officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport had keyed Naseli’s information into the Personal Identification Blacklist Immigration Control System without his actually having yet entered the Kingdom, he said. 

This doesn't make sense with the story of fake visa/forged documents.

 

Surely the story is about checking the immigration blacklist for people worried about coming to Thailand?

[colinneil]

Well if BJ is sacking corrupt immigration officers, i say well done.

Keep going this is just the tip of the iceberg, many more needing rooted out.

[ChipButty]

I always used to say if you want to stamp out corruption start at the airport 

[ravip]

14 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Well if BJ is sacking corrupt immigration officers, i say well done.

Keep going this is just the tip of the iceberg, many more needing rooted out.

 

5 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I always used to say if you want to stamp out corruption start at the airport 

But there will be a lot of complaints herein at TVF.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

25 minutes ago, colinthailand20005 said:

This doesn't make sense with the story of fake visa/forged documents.

 

Surely the story is about checking the immigration blacklist for people worried about coming to Thailand?

 

I didn't understand that reference either... Not sure what's going on with that...

 

Meanwhile, sure like to hear the outcome of these cases below:

 

Quote

Surachet added that since his landing the bureau’s top post last October, five immigration police officers – three at Don Mueang International Airport and the latest two at Suvarnabhumi Airport – and 37 “middle person” accomplices had been arrested over travel-document forgery,

 

Were actual criminal charges ever filed against these folks, particularly the officers?  Did their cases ever go to court? And what if any has been the outcome?   Or did they just quietly drift away into the Thailand night....

 

[Gecko123]

As far as I can tell, the financial requirement fraud problem is essentially an immigration "internal affairs" problem. Fire corrupt officials and ban visa agents except for those who can't make immigration trips for health reaasons, and the entire financial fraud problem would end overnight, with none of the idiotically inefficient paperwork needed to verify bank balances on a year round basis. Big Joke: put the fear of God in your subordinates, not in peace loving and law-abiding senior citizens.

Edited March 5, 2019 by Gecko123

[Lamkyong]

14 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I always used to say if you want to stamp out corruption start at the airport 

meaning that you do not say the same now???

[Justgrazing]

53 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

over the stamping of visas in travel documents that they knew had been forged,

'Bout time they stamped this sort of thing out ..

[from the home of CC]

17 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

As far as I can tell, the financial requirement fraud problem is essentially an immigration "internal affairs" problem. Fire corrupt officials and ban visa agents except for those who can't make immigration trips for health reaasons, and the entire financial fraud problem would end overnight, with none of the idiotically inefficient paperwork needed to verify bank balances on a year round basis.

Another thread talked about being questioned at the airport whether the visa was applied for personally. Although IO's are complicit the lower hanging fruit are the agents, imho they'll be the first they'll go after.

Edited March 5, 2019 by from the home of CC

[Mavideol]

There is so much corruption at Thailand Immigration Office that's difficult to select a particular case, I seen it here many and many times being brought to light but honestly never imagined how deep the problem is, it's at all levels, from the simple Jo Schmo visa lady/man at the bottom of the pyramid who gives the stamps for re-entry, etc.,  to the top of the pyramid captain, they are all on the take and in a particular case, my dear friend was faced with a disagreement between their own services, one wanted a bigger cut than the other and they argued in front of my friend. BJ if he really is not (yet) affect by that (corruption) virus, he should reshuffle the all service, clean the house, he claims to be fighting corruption and posting signs to deny TIPs to the IMO but that is not working at all

[mercman24]

never happen i know a thai agent that charged 12000 baht last year, (not the 18000 farang rip off agents) she got 3000, they got 9000, she has 600 clients, you cannot tell me this will stop , this goes all the way to the top, thats a dam lot of 9000.s be more this year i bet, they are all on this gravy train

[stanleycoin]

Getting rid of corrupt immigration officers is a good thing

Good job BJ.  More please,  a lot more.

[shady86]

I guess the money the 2 received so far is enough to cover their pensions for rest of life.

[Mavideol]

call me crazy but I would like a meeting with B.J, I have a very heavy weight on my chest and (for the obvious reasons) can't write about it but would be willing to explain to him face to face, if he speaks another language besides Thai,  without a translator (3rd party translations get distorted) maybe he's an open mind type guy and could listen to some of us, I don't know but it's an idea, we keep claiming that we don't count, they don't need us or want us, maybe it's not the case and we are all wrong, maybe they do $$$$ value us

[DrTuner]

Interestingly, on immigration's entry page they have an announcement for job openings. https://www.immigration-thai.com/people/

[DrTuner]

4 hours ago, colinneil said:

Well if BJ is sacking corrupt immigration officers, i say well done.

Keep going this is just the tip of the iceberg, many more needing rooted out.

Painting yourself into a corner comes to mind...

 

Anyway, what he's going to do after he's the last man standing? Start playing solitaire on the Windows 95 PC at the office?

[Chassa]

A couple of 'Judas Goats'. Keeps everybody happy and of course the photo Op.

[mikebell]

He could then move on to various Immigration offices to research why the rules for various visas differ from branch to branch.

[ChipButty]

9 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Painting yourself into a corner comes to mind...

 

Anyway, what he's going to do after he's the last man standing? Start playing solitaire on the Windows 95 PC at the office?

Copy version

[Bob12345]

The people at the printing office, who are making the posters, are at the forefront of every breaking news story.

There is no announcement coming from the RTP without a big poster with all the details in the background.

 

(if they are asked to print a poster for next week with pictures of the Future Forward Party members on it, they could quickly give them a call and warn them).

[transam]

Bet there's now a few bum burps going on out there...

[wvavin]

Surprised that it was only that is taking the hit.

[ttrd]

15 hours ago, colinthailand20005 said:

This doesn't make sense with the story of fake visa/forged documents.

 

Surely the story is about checking the immigration blacklist for people worried about coming to Thailand?

It make sense - lets say 2 business partners one operating in Thailand and the other one outside Thailand. The partner in Thailand has gained trust over time and have being given a significant credit for goods shipped to Thailand which never have been paid for. To avoid being confronted with his partner that he has scammed he pay an Immigration Officer to blacklist his partner to be unable to get a visa with the result of not being able to enter Thailand ...

Edited March 6, 2019 by ttrd

[Artisi]

15 hours ago, ravip said:

 

But there will be a lot of complaints herein at TVF.

tough titties. 

[Dumbastheycome]

15 hours ago, colinthailand20005 said:

This doesn't make sense with the story of fake visa/forged documents.

 

Surely the story is about checking the immigration blacklist for people worried about coming to Thailand?

Or were they altering the information to remove or reduce a blacklist period? 

[Artisi]

13 hours ago, Mavideol said:

call me crazy but I would like a meeting with B.J, I have a very heavy weight on my chest and (for the obvious reasons) can't write about it but would be willing to explain to him face to face, if he speaks another language besides Thai,  without a translator (3rd party translations get distorted) maybe he's an open mind type guy and could listen to some of us, I don't know but it's an idea, we keep claiming that we don't count, they don't need us or want us, maybe it's not the case and we are all wrong, maybe they do $$$$ value us

So does Dolly Parton, but don't hear her complaining ... 

[PerkinsCuthbert]

The guy's making himself more popular with his staff every day. Something will give sooner or later, there's too much money at stake for it not to.

[Artisi]

Just now, PerkinsCuthbert said:

The guy's making himself more popular with his staff every day. Something will give sooner or later, there's too much money at stake for it not to.

maybe some of his staff agree with his actions - not all immigration guys are bent.

 

[The Fishman]

I am shocked not transferred to inactive post what’s going on TIT