Big Oud promises swift action against immigration officials over Fast Track scandal

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Big Oud promises swift action against immigration officials over Fast Track scandal

 

Image: INN

 

The acting head of immigration - Lt-Gen Sompong "Big Oud" Chingduang - has promised quick and decisive action against any of his officers if they are caught up in the Fast Track scandal at Bangkok's main airport. 

 

He has also indicated that if the entire Premium Lane facility at Suvarnabhumi is scrapped Immigration is ready to help out. 

 

The Premium Lane (Fast Track) has just been reined in to cater just to First and Business class passengers, embassy staff and people like the elderly and the handicapped.

 

Prior to this tickets issued for an initial price of 18 to 35 baht were being traded among agents and others for up to 1,000 baht a time. People were skimming off millions of baht. 

 

Big Oud said that Region 2 immigration were investigating if any of his officers were involved in the scandal. 

 

He personally could not accept it if they were, he said, and he would ensure that they faced immediate action.

 

He said that the Fast Track facility is a standard feature at airports around the world and it would be hard to get rid of the service completely. 

 

But if it was scrapped entirely he promised that immigration would step in to provide that extra level of help and convenience to passengers. 

 

Source: INN

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-06-25

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[thequietman]

Instructions:

 

1. All IMM officer place own hand on shoulder

2. Utters the words 'you're nicked'

3. Proceeds to walk oneself to the arresting authorities

 

There is no way anyone will be found to have participated in this scam from immigration. ????

[NCC1701A]

23 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

He said that the Fast Track facility is a standard feature at airports around the world and it would be hard to get rid of the service completely. 

yes except Thailand where corruption rules the day. 

 

and why have anything or any service if you can't find a way to rip people off? Right Thailand?

Edited June 25, 2019 by NCC1701A

[Bluespunk]

26 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

But if it was scrapped entirely he promised that immigration would step in to provide that extra level of help and convenience to passengers. 

Not good enough if you pay the prices charged for business and first class.

 

There is a certain level of expectation of a quick and hassle free experience when going through immigration. 

Edited June 25, 2019 by Bluespunk

[bluesofa]

35 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The acting head of immigration - Lt-Gen Sompong "Big Oud" Chingduang - has promised quick and decisive action against any of his officers if they are caught up in the Fast Track scandal at Bangkok's main airport. 

Surely doesn't that mean in 'proper' Engrish:

"Destroy any incriminating evidence you have now, or suffer the consequences", instead of just getting on with it and not publicising it first?

[Matzzon]

That´s great! Good that he start somewhere. After this, can he have 100 master classes (each 1 h) with all Immigration Offices so they all work after the same rule book?

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

That´s great! Good that he start somewhere. After this, can he have 100 master classes (each 1 h) with all Immigration Offices so they all work after the same rule book?

And then I woke up...

[Ozman52]

17 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Not good enough if you pay the prices charged for business and first class.

 

There is a certain level of expectation of a quick and hassle free experience when going through immigration. 

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

[ThaiBunny]

Just now, Ozman52 said:

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

Because they can afford expensive seats on planes and are by definition of great economic importance than you or me

[KhaoYai]

All of the issues with immigration and they hit on this?

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, KhaoYai said:

All of the issues with immigration and they hit on this?

You know how it works: deflect, deflect, deflect.

[Bluespunk]

10 minutes ago, Ozman52 said:

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

Didn't say they should, but lot of "do you know who I ams" use it.

 

They will kick off and some of them do actually do have the influence to make life uncomfortable for those p***ing them off.

Edited June 25, 2019 by Bluespunk

[Matzzon]

11 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

And then I woke up...

Yep! He himself could probably not manage to make 100 classes with the same information. ????

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Yep! He himself could probably not manage to make 100 classes with the same information. ????

Ha ha!

He obviously needs lessons in logical thinking: Make one video and replay it a hundred times.

But that's using ferang common sense, so the idea will be thrown out right away.

 

Edited June 25, 2019 by bluesofa
grammar

[bangkokfrog]

"...immigration would step in to provide that extra level of help and convenience to passengers."

 

Good luck with that. I am not sure these words are in the Immigration Officer dictionary... unless of course there is something in it for someone.

[scorecard]

28 minutes ago, Ozman52 said:

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

They pay a fee, they get better service.

 

Applies to many things in life, you pay a higher price for your meal and you get served at your table, compared to low cost meal you line up at a counter and carry the meal back to your table.

 

The realities of capitalism. 

 

 

[SidJames]

32 minutes ago, Ozman52 said:

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

Airports are businesses.

Heathrow makes 50% of it's revenue through retail.

The airport charge the airlines for each person's security check & immigration, it's rolled into the cost of your flight ticket & charge more for fast track usage.

The same goes for lounge use, it's not free for those who are eligible.

Sometimes that 'free lunch' can be very expensive

[Matzzon]

22 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

ferang common sense

What! Evil Technology?

[ChipButty]

They were all involved surely you dont need me to tell you that and while we'er at it if you dont pay a premium in Thailand you get nothing done

[paulbrow]

Frankly I've never found tha Fast Track lane any faster than the regular ones. What would really help everyone is putting officers at some of the 75% "Closed" lanes. My Thai wife and I usually use the Thai lanes which move quite quickly by comparison.

[sammieuk1]

Wonder if BJ knew of this scandal of possible doggy officers and now big odious wants a headline poster as his world map looks a little blank???? 

[FarFlungFalang]

I wonder if his swift and decisive action would be to demand his cut?

[Cadbury]

About a year ago I used the online Fast Lane escort service for which I paid good money. I was met at the plane arrival gate by a smiling grub who then escorted me to the fast lane area and the IO. We were both greeted with a big smile after which I witnessed the Fast Lane grub hand over money to the IO. 

I was stamped through and given an even bigger smile by the beaming IO.

It would be hard not to believe a percentage of that money goes back to the top of the corruption food chain. Perhaps to even those in the photo.

 

[ThaiBunny]

2 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

About a year ago I used the online Fast Lane escort service for which I paid good money. I was met at the plane arrival gate by a smiling grub who then escorted me to the fast lane area and the IO. We were both greeted with a big smile after which I witnessed the Fast Lane grub hand over money to the IO. 

I was stamped through and given an even bigger smile by the beaming IO.

It would be hard not to believe a percentage of that money goes back to the top of the corruption food chain. Perhaps to even those in the photo.

There are times when I think I must be the only person here who believes that Thailand is so irremediably corrupt that the best course of action is to join the brown paper envelope brigade

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Not good enough if you pay the prices charged for business and first class.

 

There is a certain level of expectation of a quick and hassle free experience when going through immigration. 

As he said, no need to worry yourself...

"He said that the Fast Track facility is a standard feature at airports around the world and it would be hard to get rid of the service completely. 

But if it was scrapped entirely he promised that immigration would step in to provide that extra level of help and convenience to passengers". 

 

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, paulbrow said:

Frankly I've never found tha Fast Track lane any faster than the regular ones. What would really help everyone is putting officers at some of the 75% "Closed" lanes. My Thai wife and I usually use the Thai lanes which move quite quickly by comparison.

My Thai wife and I usually use the Thai lanes which move quite quickly by comparison"

Obviously!  Immigration processing for nationals is easier.

[Just Weird]

25 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

About a year ago I used the online Fast Lane escort service for which I paid good money. I was met at the plane arrival gate by a smiling grub who then escorted me to the fast lane area and the IO. We were both greeted with a big smile after which I witnessed the Fast Lane grub hand over money to the IO. 

I was stamped through and given an even bigger smile by the beaming IO.

It would be hard not to believe a percentage of that money goes back to the top of the corruption food chain. 

You seem to be complaining about something that you, voluntarily, were the greater part of!

Edited June 25, 2019 by Just Weird

[Prince77]

2 hours ago, Ozman52 said:

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

Sarcastic question? Because those people do not like to queue up and waste their time? Besides, Fast Lane is not only for Business- and First Class passengers but also for frequent flyers with an airline status.... and I love it.

[GinSkipper]

2 hours ago, Ozman52 said:

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

It's a common set of services purchased via the Airport (not Immigration), which gets included with Business and First Class tickets so having paid for it why shouldn't they?

[RichardColeman]

 

2 hours ago, Ozman52 said:

Why should those who can afford expensive seats on planes be given priority at immigration?

Same reason they fly first and premium class I suppose.