Banged Up! "Extortion" case cops denied bail - but are they scapegoats for wider malaise in RTP?

[The Fugitive]

My stepdaughter last year successfully completed a five year university course to join Royal Thai Police. She wanted to become a forensic scene of crimes officer. Unfortunately, part way through her course RTP announced that no females were to be appointed to 'inquiry' roles for reliability reasons. However, she decided to continue. I suggested Immigration Division would be the most lucrative, especially if she could be posted to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Whilst waiting for the next intake, she is working for a software development/website/mobile application company and seems to be happy in her work. I can't envisage anything changing very much at RTP. Does seem a shame after 5 years of study not to try for RTP.     

[BangkokReady]

4 hours ago, CRUNCHER said:

Too many Thais shrug their shoulders and say "that's the way it is". Many hate the corruption, but are powerless to do anything.

More likely they say "Oh no.  That's so bad.  I'm not like that."  Then go and be corrupt in whatever area they can be.

[BangkokReady]

4 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

no females were to be appointed to 'inquiry' roles for reliability reasons

Because women are considered unreliable in Thailand?

[BangkokReady]

25 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Every single officer leading them away will have done the same thing at one point or another.

 

Dog and Pony show.

I'm pretty sure it's simply a case of "Sorry guys, but you ripped off the wrong people.  Now we have to show that we are doing something about it."

[Davedub]

5 hours ago, CRUNCHER said:

Whether it is a minor civil servant asking for a couple of hundred baht tea money to issue  license he is paid to issue or money being ripped out of major infrastructure projects corruption is rife in Thailand.

I'm of the opinion that many of the issues with tea money for minor civil servants is rooted in a deeper problem; that of excessively overcomplicated procedures and bureaucracy that, if actually followed to the letter are completely unworkable.

 

For example, when I first started a business here back in 2008, immigration procedures required that I go to a Thai embassy somewhere like Kuala Lumpur with my work permit to get my one year B visa. The problem was that the labour department's regulations prohibited my taking my work permit out of the country! Although this particular situation has subsequently been addressed, it is a good example of the overcomplicated, pointless bureaucratic chaos that passes for 'correct procedure' here.

 

When civil servants take tea money they are often helping someone get a needless, pointless bit of paper that is required for them to run a business or to just lead a normal life. It's easy to see why such practices continue; either unworkable, needlessly complicated regulations are followed to the letter and the entire country grinds to a halt, or civil servants make concessions at their own risk and somewhat understandably ask for recompense for doing so.

Edited February 3, 2023 by Davedub

[The Fugitive]

2 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Because women are considered unreliable in Thailand?

If I remember correctly, the example quoted was something like; 'When we have a raid planned we don't want female officers failing to turn up because their baby sitter has let them down'.

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, The Fugitive said:

If I remember correctly, the example quoted was something like; 'When we have a raid planned we don't want female officers failing to turn up because their baby sitter has let them down'.

Welcome to last century!

[Salerno]

15 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Does seem a shame after 5 years of study not to try for RTP.     

Any chance she can get a gig overseas?

[The Fugitive]

1 minute ago, Salerno said:

Any chance she can get a gig overseas?

I have a niece who is planning to study Japanese language in Udon Thani. Previously, a nephew studied for 6 months at same college and obtained a post in the seafood industry in Japan. Language would be the key to that for sure.

[Salerno]

2 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

I have a niece who is planning to study Japanese language in Udon Thani. Previously, a nephew studied for 6 months at same college and obtained a post in the seafood industry in Japan. Language would be the key to that for sure.

That's cool, so it wouldn't be totally out of left field if your stepdaughter wanted to pursue a career in forensics overseas, as you said, hell of a waste of five years on something she is obviously fairly passionate about. I'm not going to hold my breath but things will slowly change in Thailand, would be cool if she could start her career overseas, gain experience and come back into the RTP when it catches up.

[connda]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The reaction to vaping devices is also typical. Have a crackdown on something illegal that has been operating in total plain sight for years. 

Sweet Buddha.  Make it legal and tax it for revenues.  Throwing people in jail simply drains the state coffers to incarcerate them.

[metisdead]

Some posts with trolling images have been removed.

[connda]

3 hours ago, Stevemercer said:

As the original post implies, these are just foot soldiers obeying orders from higher up. There is no way street cops, like these, would get the keep the 27,000 Baht exhorted. They may get 500 Baht each, but most will go up the food chain right to the top of the metropolitan police.

My Thai wife was discussing that with me the other day and I didn't even ask her about it. 
She brought up the subject.  I just nodded my head.

[Elkski]

No witness tampering.  But I'm sure they can have visits from their superiors telling them to take the hit and they will be rewarded and sprung ASAP. 

[Chongalulu]

In keeping with the article,most here have accurately assessed this is a symptom of a far deeper /wider issue and these are the sacrificial lambs. No,they don’t deserve sympathy,but more so than those pulling the strings who remain immune. There is a small victory in that all will be a little less comfortable knowing that social media can provide an illuminating spotlight and damage the country’s tourist industry. It might just be a very small step on a journey out of the morass of endemic corruption,although many ,many more will be required to make a difference. 
So maybe a small celebration of this is in order,with certain parties now aware they cannot be quite so complacent that they are untouchable. 

[connda]

7 minutes ago, Elkski said:

No witness tampering.  But I'm sure they can have visits from their superiors telling them to take the hit and they will be rewarded and sprung ASAP. 

And no one will be the wiser as the entire affair is "memory holed."

I'd posit that Thai "Investigative Journalism" ends between 48 to 96 hours after the event and then - hai bpai - disappears!

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by connda

[Freed1948]

I really don't know where this case is headed. I have been here on and off for a total of 30 to 40 years. 

I don't know any police officers personally but have interacted with a few. I have never felt threatened by the ones I have dealt with. This maybe because I have lived a sheltered life here. I just look at it as there are good and bad apples in law enforcement throughout the world. 

Of course I read the news about the corruption here and just put it down to the low wages paid to the average Thai worker. What riles me is the blatant thievery of officialdom from fellow Thais who have to deal with these corrupt people. As somebody else said the average Thai knows it goes on and accepts it as part of the country's culture. UNTIL a political party is elected that has

THE PEOPLE foremost in mind it will never change.

 

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

They all pay for their positions, i have head chief of police can pay over $1 million USD for his post.

 

The entire system is set up to extort. The Joe Ferrari case is a classic example. How do you think someone like the fugitive ex PM goes from being a cop to one of the richest men in Thailand?

 

The entire force needs t be fired, anew force hired with far less officers, higher pay and a system in place where they do not pay for their positions, they do not profit from arresting people. Just do your job. Harsh jail sentences for any corruption.

 

Of course this will never happen. If it did, we would all probably move because Thailand would be as boring as most other countries.

[Aussieroaming]

I hope Chuwit wears a bulletproof vest. Everything has a price, including continually exposing the corrupt RTP and cutting off their income streams.

These 6 are minions reporting to higher ups who get the lions share of the dirty money.

 

 

[mania]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

The captains, senior sergeants and sergeants were soon being led back to jail where they can be held for up to seven 12 day periods subject to the court's discretion

Seven 12 day periods??? Sheesh????

 

This was extortion..... this was grand larceny,  threatening

 

I know poor Thai's who have been sentenced to 2 YEARS in prison for picking

mushrooms in the wrong place

 

These poor cops probably sitting in aircon rooms in the prison

Some countries would cut their left hands off send a message

Edited February 3, 2023 by mania

[d4dang]

Where exactly are they being held in Bangkok Remand? Blocks go from Juvies to Murderers. The Remand is pretty comfortable. Pay as you stay.

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, mania said:

Seven 12 day periods??? Sheesh????

 

This was extortion..... this was grand larceny,  threatening

 

I know poor Thai's who have been sentenced to 2 YEARS in prison for picking

mushrooms in the wrong place

 

These poor cops probably sitting in aircon rooms in the prison

Some countries would cut their left hands off send a message

This is quite reflective of oligarchical corpocracies. 

Same same everywhere.

[jacko45k]

Dog and pony show..... these 6 are just scapegoats for a wider scam of shakedowns!

[herfiehandbag]

18 hours ago, shackleton said:

It's a start with the 6 police guys getting arrested for corruption 

A severe sentence is needed hopefully sends out a message to others on the take ????

Will it stop doubt it but you have to  start somewhere ????

Scapegoats. Nothing more or less.

 

It may go as far as a big well publicised trial - or this parade performance may be enough if something else comes along.

 

Any exemplary sentences handed down are unlikely to be really served. They will end up employed in the shadier fringes of what is, after all, a nationwide mafia business. Such businesses always need "foot soldiers".

Edited February 4, 2023 by herfiehandbag

[theoldgit]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Videos showed the men being led from the Bangkok Remand Prison to a special, relatively new court that deals with corruption cases against bent officials. 

 

I suspect that if this corruption issue was really being taken seriously then they would also need a new, and much larger, prison to hold those involved.

[sammieuk1]

Since then the case has involved virtually every senior figure in the met police and wider RTP leadership as well as politicians up to PM Prayuth Chan-ocha himself.... and beyond trust social media not them ????

[zyphodb]

16 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Because women are considered unreliable in Thailand?

A damn sight more reliable than Thai Men in my experience...

[jeffriesbkk]

In the early nineties it cost 20 m baht to be promoted as captain of an A grade police district in Bkk or Pattaya . Heaven knows what the price is today.

[sambum]

"Videos showed the men being led from the Bangkok Remand Prison to a special, relatively new court that deals with corruption cases against bent officials."

 

Going by the information in the article, and what seems to be common knowledge about widespread corruption in the RTP, it shouldn't be long before a committee is set up to discuss the viability of setting up such courts in every province in Thailand!  

[sambum]

18 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

My stepdaughter last year successfully completed a five year university course to join Royal Thai Police. She wanted to become a forensic scene of crimes officer. Unfortunately, part way through her course RTP announced that no females were to be appointed to 'inquiry' roles for reliability reasons. However, she decided to continue. I suggested Immigration Division would be the most lucrative, especially if she could be posted to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Whilst waiting for the next intake, she is working for a software development/website/mobile application company and seems to be happy in her work. I can't envisage anything changing very much at RTP. Does seem a shame after 5 years of study not to try for RTP.     

".............no females were to be appointed to 'inquiry' roles for reliability reasons."

 

What they mean to say is that no females can be trusted to keep their mouths shut! ????

 

Seriously, there are female Police Officers, but maybe they are appointed merely to search and accompany female suspects as is probably required by International Law/Human Rights.