Influence peddling lands judge in soup

By The Nation

 

 

THE JUDICIAL Commission is investigating a chief justice for allegedly citing “special connections” when refusing to produce his driving licence at a checkpoint in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

 

The probe will determine whether Krairat Weerapattana, a chief justice at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 8, has committed a disciplinary offence. 

 

A viral video clip shows Krairat telling a junior policeman that he was a chief justice and that he was “Choke’s friend”. 

 

It is believed that “Choke” here refers to Pol Colonel Chokedee Rakwattapong, who heads the Thung Yai Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

 

The incident took place on May 2. The following day, Lance Corporal Ekapon Juisongkaew, who asked to see Krairat’s driving licence and recorded the incident, was transferred out of patrol duty.

 

However, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha intervened and reinstated Ekapon. 

 

“We will check the results of the probe,” the Judicial Commission’s secretary Sarawut Benjakul said yesterday, adding that the investigation had been ordered even after Krairat provided an explanation of the incident. 

 

In a related development, Nakhon Si Thammarat’s police chief Pol Maj-General Thakoon Netpukkana also ordered an investigation into the incident.

 

Members of the fact-finding panel showed up at Thung Yai district without any prior notice yesterday. 

 

Ekapon, meanwhile, was thankful for the public support he had received on Facebook and also thanked the director of his alma mater, Boonkong Upakan School, for sending him flowers as moral support.

 

The junior policeman, however, did not comment on the investigation that has kicked off both in the police force and the judiciary. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30369325

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-14

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what a clown

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

even after Krairat provided an explanation of the incident. 

I can just imagine.

Yep, he explained 'it's actually OK for me to do that because I just ate som tam'. 'So case closed isn't it'? 

What a plonker, just an upstart, he is no different to anybody else.

Get stopped by police, show your license, then on your way, but not him, he thinks he is above the law.

No way should a clown like that be sitting in a court in judgement over others.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

on the investigation that has kicked off both in the police force and the judiciary. 

large problems in both, the focus only due to social media

3 hours ago, webfact said:

It is believed that “Choke” here refers to Pol Colonel Chokedee Rakwattapong

It looks like he's going to ' choke' on his close relation with his buddy Choke... just transfer the man so one of those 'inactive posts' where you never hear from them again...

Nice young cop. Hope he never changes.

Why doesn't somebody from the higher up Department check to see if this BABOON actually does have a licence.  I mean how hard is it to pull your licence out of your wallet to show police.

nothing will happen

Clearly an expert on corruption & misconduct.

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

What a plonker, just an upstart, he is no different to anybody else.

Get stopped by police, show your license, then on your way, but not him, he thinks he is above the law.

No way should a clown like that be sitting in a court in judgement over others.

Unfortunately this is Thailand, so he is above the law, I don't reckon the honest policeman's chances very high, the scum will always rise to the top of the wash in the suds, wait until all the fuss has died down and Mr Plod will be out on his ear.

11 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Unfortunately this is Thailand, so he is above the law, I don't reckon the honest policeman's chances very high, the scum will always rise to the top of the wash in the suds, wait until all the fuss has died down and Mr Plod will be out on his ear.

Sadly I fear you are correct. In any case he has definitely scuppered any chances of promotion in the future.........

Not much class the judge. The correct procedure is to comply with the young constables requests etc.. Then if it comes to anything call your mate the Chief Constable or "bump" into him at the Masonic Lodge.

1 hour ago, a977 said:

Why doesn't somebody from the higher up Department check to see if this BABOON actually does have a licence.  I mean how hard is it to pull your licence out of your wallet to show police.

That is, when you have a driving licence. You can image that if you are above the law , you don't need one.

i bet he has got a brand new drivers licence and the ink is still wet, i can hear it now, *me judge, not need licence, never have, all my friends not have also, stop bothering me, ha ha

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

What a plonker, just an upstart, he is no different to anybody else.

Get stopped by police, show your license, then on your way, but not him, he thinks he is above the law.

No way should a clown like that be sitting in a court in judgement over others.

There are more clowns in Thailand than used to be in Billy Smart's circus. The only difference is that the Thai ones have more magic bank accounts.

As some posters like to say "A dog and pony show"

 

If this goes anywhere it will be because his political affiliations are the wrong colour.

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by Oziex1

This case shows the enormous power of video and social media to expose wrong-doing and possibly effect change. In the past this could so easily be swept under the shag pile. Now, while It may not come to very much (that is a separate issue) it is in the public domain. More will follow and people like this judge will have to reassess how they behave and there will hopefully be more justice for the down-trodden and lower echelons of Thai society. 

 

I see positive signs here though it will take time.

 

Rooster

5 hours ago, YetAnother said:

large problems in both, the focus only due to social media

A hymn to social media - may they destroy the blatant unequality

and make the life hell  of those hiso and high position clowns 

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by sweatalot

He's sitting in a difficult position now, I bet he'd like to turn the clock back a few hours & do it differently.

Damned by the public for showing Thailand has a two tier system, one for the privileged & one for the masses.

For putting the judicial system in the spot light, by Prayut intervening & re-instating the officer involved & making the police general look stupid for kicking him off traffic duty for doing what he was actually paid to do.

Just waiting for the outcome... I wonder if he'll have the same smug face as he did sitting in the car like a lord of the manor!

 

 

31 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

He's sitting in a difficult position now, I bet he'd like to turn the clock back a few hours & do it differently.

Damned by the public for showing Thailand has a two tier system, one for the privileged & one for the masses.

For putting the judicial system in the spot light, by Prayut intervening & re-instating the officer involved & making the police general look stupid for kicking him off traffic duty for doing what he was actually paid to do.

Just waiting for the outcome... I wonder if he'll have the same smug face as he did sitting in the car like a lord of the manor!

 

 

'Normal People' are just an irritant to the well heeled so called 'Elite' in Thailand.    This will all be swept under the carpet and will have been a 'terrible misunderstanding' by the Little People, who are unaware of just how important these arrogant and ignorant Pigs are !

7 hours ago, a977 said:

Why doesn't somebody from the higher up Department check to see if this BABOON actually does have a licence.  I mean how hard is it to pull your licence out of your wallet to show police.

 

Not hard at all. But I suspect either he hadn't got his on him; or possible the police officer didn't grovel enough in the way he approached and asked for it. I think the latter because people who consider themselves to be the 'great and good important ones" just don't like it unless the plebs treat them with the reference they crave and believe they're entitled to. 

And once that spat starts they'll never ever loose face and back down.

 

 

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

He's sitting in a difficult position now, I bet he'd like to turn the clock back a few hours & do it differently.

Damned by the public for showing Thailand has a two tier system, one for the privileged & one for the masses.

For putting the judicial system in the spot light, by Prayut intervening & re-instating the officer involved & making the police general look stupid for kicking him off traffic duty for doing what he was actually paid to do.

Just waiting for the outcome... I wonder if he'll have the same smug face as he did sitting in the car like a lord of the manor!

 

 

 

In the short term I agree - Judge is gonna face some discomfort and loose face.

 

Longer term, I fear for the policeman's career.

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

In the short term I agree - Judge is gonna face some discomfort and loose face.

 

Longer term, I fear for the policeman's career.

The way this country is going I fear for the policeman's life

Sack them now show some moral fibre.

Choke Yourself 

22 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

In the short term I agree - Judge is gonna face some discomfort and loose face.

 

Longer term, I fear for the policeman's career.

Perhaps we should encourage him to start a 'go fund me' campaign to buy a couple of promotions. That might keep him safe for a while!

This article seems to omit the part where Choke and the judge brought the poor officer to a session of status-check and authority circle-jerk.

I really hope this end up in those two falling back to the bottom of the ladder. They could still buy their way up but the face is lost.