BANGKOK, (TNA) – Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn will file complaints against more than 100 immigration officers allegedly involving in illegally issuing visas for foreigners including Chinese investors linked to gray business in Thailand.

He said about the progress in the cases that the investigation report had completed and he would go to Khon Kaen and Udon Thani provinces this week to file complaints against immigration and local officers in connection with the illegal visa malfeasance.

 

Pol Gen Surachate disclosed that they took advantage during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow visa applicants to use photo identification for visa renewal instead of to report to the authorities in person.

Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1114159

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2023-02-14

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

I just don't buy it. Likely another big joke smoke screen. Three guys just don't get prosecuted and locked up. It is against the stream, it disrupts the flow of things. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn will file complaints against more than 100 immigration officers allegedly involving in illegally issuing visas for foreigners including Chinese investors linked to gray business in Thailand.

So will they be sacked from the immigration police... or just moved to a quiet corner of some other paper shuffling office?

52 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I just don't buy it. Likely another big joke smoke screen. Three guys just don't get prosecuted and locked up. It is against the stream, it disrupts the flow of things. 

I think you are correct.....I also expect a warning from China not to victimize it's people and discriminate nor deride them, and that will quieten efforts down here. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

ore than 100 immigration officers allegedly involving in illegally issuing visas for foreigners including Chinese investors linked to gray business in Thailand.

100 immigrations officers! this is what is called rampant corruption

Loved this comment earlier - '100 Immigration Officers to Be Charged' - is this figure from the same office?

And once again....maybe the 3rd time we see the usual.. "To be charged".....We'll have to wait a while probably for the headline to state "have been charged"!

In the end it will only hurt those who used the services of those officers and alike by costing more and by simply kicking the can down the road because no way this practice of bribes is going to end anytime soon...

He's been making the same announcement regularly for the last few weeks, but so far we have seen no names, no photos, and no actual arrests or charges. 

I agree with the others in that until such time as we actually see prosecutions - people standing in court in front of a judge - then it’s all conjecture if you will.

 

I do think that “Joke” is trying to root out the issue.. but… I also think it’s incredibly hard to investigate one/some of “your own” … and given that TH doesn’t really have a truly independent investigative arm that’s both equipped with the functional backing of law AND insulated from potential interference from the entity/people being investigated, it’s going to make any investigation hard and/or open the door to claims of bias or adulterated findings.

100 people charged is the same as a large gang arrest.  You charge them all and start to open let's make a deal.

 

The fact that arrest warrants or charges are being announced us more than some thoughts would happen.

 

Some people charged that help with the case will be allowed to retire quietly.

 

But if they can get enough little people to talk then they can get more bigger fish.

 

I expect china will keep quiet about this as it is not a good look for them and they still want Thailand to help with all the law breakers that have fled gere

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

Loved this comment earlier - '100 Immigration Officers to Be Charged' - is this figure from the same office?

The office of TOT more likely ... lol 

Off topic post and replies removed

2 hours ago, khunjeff said:

He's been making the same announcement regularly for the last few weeks, but so far we have seen no names, no photos, and no actual arrests or charges. 

Most importantly, no vinyl.

 

Just plans for an unusually large rug, and broom, to deal with this problem.

 

 

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Pol Gen Surachate disclosed that they took advantage during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow visa applicants to use photo identification for visa renewal instead of to report to the authorities in person.

That sounds like a massive downgrade from what was originally alleged these officers did. Will they get away with a slap on the wrist?

11 hours ago, webfact said:

allow visa applicants to use photo identification for visa renewal instead of to report to the authorities in person.

I think what we are talking about here is agents sending passports.

10 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

And once again....maybe the 3rd time we see the usual.. "To be charged".....We'll have to wait a while probably for the headline to state "have been charged"!

Don't hold your breath. 

and here we go, numbers start to shrink already, not long ago they were 110.... Thailand and its infamous use of "Chinese" calculators  as they shrink or increase estimates as it fits  555

 

110 Thai immigration police officers charged in visa scandal

11 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I just don't buy it. Likely another big joke smoke screen. Three guys just don't get prosecuted and locked up. It is against the stream, it disrupts the flow of things. 

.....and these activities are not pursued or practiced without a green light from the bosses at the top. 

Something's amiss when such actions are so widespread and organized - obviously, a particular high circle is benefiting. 

Follow the deeper money and the future possibilities.

 

The systems are set up to be rackets. Nothing more, nothing less.

9 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

100 people charged is the same as a large gang arrest.  You charge them all and start to open let's make a deal.

 

The fact that arrest warrants or charges are being announced us more than some thoughts would happen.

 

Some people charged that help with the case will be allowed to retire quietly.

 

But if they can get enough little people to talk then they can get more bigger fish.

 

I expect china will keep quiet about this as it is not a good look for them and they still want Thailand to help with all the law breakers that have fled gere

We certainly shouldn't be expecting any such journalistic investigative follow-ups. Never do...

It will all be quickly swept under the rug and forgotten in a week or two. ????

The charged officers will be temporarily suspended [and restated later] or transferred to another post without the attention of the ever vigilant and crack [not] investigative reporting that we've come to associate with the Thai media ????????????

 

Just another day of the usual racketeering.

Mai phen rai.

10 hours ago, new2here said:

I agree with the others in that until such time as we actually see prosecutions - people standing in court in front of a judge - then it’s all conjecture if you will.

 

I do think that “Joke” is trying to root out the issue.. but… I also think it’s incredibly hard to investigate one/some of “your own” … and given that TH doesn’t really have a truly independent investigative arm that’s both equipped with the functional backing of law AND insulated from potential interference from the entity/people being investigated, it’s going to make any investigation hard and/or open the door to claims of bias or adulterated findings.

^ This.

So it's actually all moot. 

Likely 100 out of 105 officers. A fairly accurate guess as to the ratio.