Picture: Daily News

 

The Thai Immigration Bureau has set up a committee to investigate after an audio clip went viral on social media.

 

It purports to be a policeman in the south of Thailand asking for a bribe in exchange for not prosecuting a foreign migrant. 

 

The force has asked for seven days to get to the truth saying that no stone will be left unturned in that endeavor.

 

Pol Col Phakhayos Thanonsak of Region 6 immigration in Songkhla said that if the person turns out to be an immigration official, or any other policeman for that matter, they will face the full force of disciplinary and criminal measures. 

 

He said there would be no cover up with the immigration chief - Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang - demanding results ASAP.

 

Phakhayos then went on to say what a wonderful job his men had done in arresting 30 migrant worker trafficking gangs in the last year.

 

The subject has become a hot potato during the pandemic and if extortion or corruption is proven the person or persons responsible will be hung out to dry, suggests ASEAN NOW.

 

However, RTP committees are notorious for heading nowhere even when evidence is damning.

 

On this occasion the NACC are also showing an interest. Daily News quoted a person from the National Anti-Corruption Commission as saying they will be conducting their own investigation in the matter. 

 

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Shocking, 555!

This comment sums it up in a nutshell

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

set up a committee to investigate 

Audio clips, CCTV clips. Those are the real problems they'll Address at the committee... 

They can set up 10 committees it will not change a thing, this  is a country that is run on payola, under the table and most cases it is understood that money HAS to change hands to get things moving...

3 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Audio clips, CCTV clips. Those are the real problems they'll Address at the committee... 

yep, probably write a new law prohibiting CCTVs and any kind of recording devices (handy and so on), when a government official of ANY kind is around. Alternatively a new try for an amnesty law

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

Phakhayos then went on to say what a wonderful job his men had done in arresting 30 migrant worker trafficking gangs in the last year.

There were 70, but 40 had an envelope............

They should start at the airport 

No way, that would never have happened, more fake news and soon someone to be hauled up on Defamation charges.....

Rinse and repeat.

Soon, when you apply for a government job, you must have a crypto account, otherwise you won't get the job.

Discret payment.

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

The force has asked for seven days to get to the truth

using the plastic  bag method?

Immigration chief "Fortuner Bill" denied any wrongdoing.

He was given his nickname for his love of high end Toyota Fortuner.

I have paid bribes to immigration officers before for a visa extension. 

There must be a spare desk in the PMs office now, so off to an inactive post for the alleged offender.

1 minute ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I have paid bribes to immigration officers before for a visa extension. 

Call it what it is" Feeding the beast of corruption"

7 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

Soon, when you apply for a government job, you must have a crypto account, otherwise you won't get the job.

Discret payment.

Problem with cryptocurrency is most are pseudonymous like an IP address, can be traced and the blockchain keeps a perfect record of every transaction forever. 

 

Better paying in cash, much harder to trace. 

9 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I have paid bribes to immigration officers before for a visa extension. 

If you lived here 20 years ago that was normal

14 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

If you lived here 20 years ago that was normal

out of all the people I know that live here only two of them get their extensions without going through an agent and of those none of them have the funds in the bank and pay on average 15k for a 12 month extension - fact

32 minutes ago, smedly said:

out of all the people I know that live here only two of them get their extensions without going through an agent and of those none of them have the funds in the bank and pay on average 15k for a 12 month extension - fact

And how do they show confirmation of funds being the bank for three and then twelve months?

What? Since when have they started with such horrible and unlawful dealings?

The force has asked for seven days to hide the truth, saying no stones will be turned over in that endeavor.

 

If the person turns out to be an immigration official they will face a really stern ticking off.

 

Phakhayos then went on to say what a wonderful job his men had done in arresting 30 migrant worker trafficking gangs who refused to pay bribe money in the last year.

16 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

And how do they show confirmation of funds being the bank for three and then twelve months?

Dont ask questions and I wont tell you no lie's

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

If you lived here 20 years ago that was normal

Been here 31 years now. 

 

This incident was 8 years ago at Samut Prakan Immigration office. Would not extend a foreign employee's visa unless we paid them 17,000thb. Initially they were told to fo, but they wouldn't budge. We used an agent and all our paperwork was in order. Agent was either in on it or useless. 

 

As a result of that we now use a petroleum industry logistics company for all our visas for foreign employees and never had a bother since. We deal only with the one stop shop in Lumphini in Bangkok now. 

Just the tip.

2 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Just the tip.

That didnt work

35 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

And how do they show confirmation of funds being the bank for three and then twelve months?

they pay a bribe to not have to show, are you really unaware ?

I can see the time looming on the horizon when you have to deal with immigration or the police of any kind, there will be a mandatory requirement to have all personal electronic devices switched off or handed in, like we used to do upon entering the British Embassy.

59 minutes ago, Blot said:

"Oh yes they are"

My first visa when I got here was through an agent based in the Soi Cowboy area, which was advertised in the BP.

I turned up at the agency to be met by a tall Swede named Lars, who only needed my passport, as the only supporting document that were required was paper cash.

When my passport came back it had an entry/exit stamp for Brisbane, Australia, despite the fact that I have never been to Australia.

The agent went on to set up a website named ThaiVisa. ????

 

2 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Audio clips, CCTV clips. Those are the real problems they'll Address at the committee... 

The real problem is Social media for them.