Immigration checking bank accounts? Officers undergo training in "money laundering"

[webfact]

Immigration checking bank accounts? Officers undergo training in "money laundering"

 

Picture: Sophon Cable TV

 

An Immigration seminar in Pattaya was training officers in how to spot money laundering and how they could apply the law. 

 

Thaivisa notes that this comes at a time when immigration has been trying to root out agents who arrange long stay visas for foreigners with money in bogus bank accounts.

 

Hundreds of immigration officers attended the seminar in Bang Lamung chaired by force bigwig Lt-Gen Suwat Chaengyortsuk. 

 

Picture: Sophon Cable TV

 

Sophon Cable TV said on Facebook that it was designed to increase the efficiency of officers in spotting financial irregularities and understanding what they can do according to the law. 

 

The "ongoing training" would help immigration with more modern methods in detecting crime both today and into the future. 

 

The public were reminded again how to contact immigration to report offences by going to their Suan Phlu, Bangkok HQ or calling the 1178 hotline. 

 

Sophon made no mention about any specific cases connected to the training seminar. 

 

Source: Sophon Cable TV

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-07-24

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[taichiplanet]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

"ongoing training"

implies that they have experience in their careers anyway. ????

[RotBenz8888]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

The "ongoing training" would help immigration with more modern methods in detecting crime both today and into the future. 

Like using their time and effort to kick out the real criminals and spend less time harassing expats.

[worgeordie]

Maybe start with Government officials...the results would be amazing.

regards worgeordie

[NCC1701A]

its getting so you can't even launder money anymore. i mean why even come here?

[KhunKenAP]

Another tool in their tool box to screw with you. Leave the money laundering investigation to the professional, not immigration. Not their job.

 

Like giving a 10 year old training on a nuclear reactor and expecting a good outcome.

[KhunBENQ]

My wife did money laundering repeatedly

 

Is this new "bigwit" even more paranoid than big joke?

[ezzra]

I would put to them to be trained to check the accounts of their highly questionable and corrupt both official and business people countrymen and women first, where they will, no doubt, find a hell of a lot 'unexplained wealth' to report than those of most of the foreigners living in Thailand...

[nev]

Excellent news they can come and check mine, If they find any money in there we can go Half's on it.

[Moonlover]

I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult to root out the fraudulent 'immigration agents'. Simply ask to see their clients bank passbook.

 

But just a mo. aren't I overlooking something?

[Hayduke]

 

Hopefully they’ve got a handle on all those despicable scoundrels who were shamelessly laundering billions of Baht by adding credit to their BTS train passes.

 

 

 

[bitterbatter]

While they are busy snooping in our business,  Can they also take a look into Thai spouses stealing expats money?

How soon before they come up with 50 more ways to tax foreigners?

[RichardColeman]

Up next , your yearly 'money laundering check, 1000 baht' tax

[jacko45k]

No doubt they will be showing more interest in Expat's bank accounts when in reality their own would be far more revealing.

[from the home of CC]

13 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

"Thaivisa notes that this comes at a time when immigration has been trying to root out agents who arrange long stay visas for foreigners with money in bogus bank accounts."

 

These agents wouldn't have anything to do with the agents TV members use to get their visa extensions for between 14,000-25,000 baht with no money in the bank, certainly...

If I needed to use these methods to extend my permission to stay I wouldn't be stating that fact on these pages, nevertheless I read about it on almost a daily basis. IMO it's only a matter of time and I do hope people that are ensnared in this don't get charged also with the facilitation of corruption. 

[intherealworld]

Any dodgy visa issued.

You will always find a dodgy Immigration officer, on the take.

It all just sounds a bit like checking each others home work. 

TIT.

 

 

[Justgrazing]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

An Immigration seminar in Pattaya was training officers in how to spot money laundering and how they could apply the 

Fabric softener .? 

[Thailand]

Hundreds of officers at the seminar, that means hundreds of interpretations of what they have just been told.  More confusion ahead.

[Basil B]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

its getting so you can't even launder money anymore. i mean why even come here?

What next?

 

The local laundry refusing to wash and iron ones smalls? 

[BestB]

If someone was money laundering, would they not have enough money in their bank account to show? Why would they need an agent to front money for them ?

 

also what is bogus bank account?

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaivisa notes that this comes at a time when immigration has been trying to root out agents who arrange long stay visas for foreigners with money in bogus bank accounts.

 

And yet as it become more and more difficult to play by the rules, we are consistently reminded by our fellow TV members that using agents is "hassle free" and no need to worry about pesky little issues like money in the bank or income letters.  
Perhaps they should turn a critical eye on their own IOs.  Well, when pork takes wing.  

[connda]

26 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

Fabric softener .? 

Fabric Soften = Agents

[GeorgeCross]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaivisa notes that this comes at a time when immigration has been trying to root out agents who arrange long stay visas for foreigners with money in bogus bank accounts.

 

no chance they will find anything wrong.. the fox is guarding the hen house

 

more chance of finding prostitution in pattaya, a few may be hung out to dry but nothing of substance will happen

 

 

[GeorgeCross]

4 minutes ago, connda said:

And yet as it become more and more difficult to play by the rules, we are consistently reminded by our fellow TV members that using agents is "hassle free" and no need to worry about pesky little issues like money in the bank or income letters.  
Perhaps they should turn a critical eye on their own IOs.  Well, when pork takes wing.  

 

no-one would be in this situation (new rules nightmares) if immigration had cleaned their own house in the first place, but as i said in my last post it's not gonna happen. vested interests, the thai way of always targetting the demand rather than the supply and the fact that the agents must be paying someone on the inside or it couldn't happen!

 

 

[Genericnic]

I thought that was what AMLO was for. Silly me.

 

David

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, KhunKenAP said:

Another tool in their tool box to screw with you. Leave the money laundering investigation to the professional, not immigration. Not their job.

 

Like giving a 10 year old training on a nuclear reactor and expecting a good outcome.

 

You hit the nail on the head. Now every regional chief, every office chief and every officer will think they're experts on anti money laundering, know more than the banks, and start dreaming up convoluted overly bureaucratic ways in which to catch these dastardly foreigners polluting Thailand. 

 

Obviously they don't think banks check. Clearly haven't ever tried to transfer money, open and overseas account or even simply maintain being an expat customer themselves!

[Baerboxer]

3 minutes ago, Genericnic said:

I thought that was what AMLO was for. Silly me.

 

David

 

Yep so did I. But I guess AMLO are so busy looking inwards, someone needs to focus on all these foreigners laundering billions.

[Denim]

However , fearing this news might impact negatively on the expat community the seminar goes under the slogan :

 

' Don't worry expats be, happy ! "

 

We will launder your money for you in a thousand and one ways.

[klauskunkel]

[simon43]

For those of you who are making jokes about this news report, I would politely suggest that no-one would hold a training program such as this unless they proposed to use that training for a purpose.  Holding seminars etc costs time and money.

 

Immigration officers are responsible for managing the issue of visas for foreigners, which in many cases involves proof of funds and/or proof of source of funds etc.  Think about it.

 

For those who do not have the 400/800 k baht for their visa extension, and who use an agent to 'circumvent' the system, I'd be worried...