Top Royal Thai Police officers under scrutiny over links to illegal online gambling cash flows

[webfact]

National Police Commissioner General Damrongsak Kittiprapat has ordered an expedited report from the Inspector General’s office within fifteen days in which he wants to see the names of two key officers revealed and confirmed based on reports presented to the media by whistleblower Chuwit Kamolvisit (inset). One concerns a mid-level officer who has been suspended from duty and has allegedly been funding a lavish lifestyle and international business empire from bribes paid by illegal gambling websites which are thriving in Thailand.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Latest revelations by Chuwit Kamolvisit focus on police officers within the force taking bribes from the illegal gaming industry moonlighting as masters of business and high finance including living abroad while being absent from work for long periods. 

 

New allegations of corruption within the Royal Thai Police linked to the kingdom’s huge illicit illegal gambling rackets have led to National Police Commissioner General Damrongsak Kittiprapat ordering an expedited report by the police inspectorate seeking confirmation of serious allegations that two top police officers have been complicit in such activities including being in receipt of hefty bribes from such entities allowing a mid-level officer to fund a lavish international lifestyle. The officer has also been linked to the operation of an upmarket massage parlour in Bangkok. Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha has given the police chief his backing to get to the bottom of the latest affair linked to the force as his government faces searching questions this week in parliament as an opposition-tabled debate gets underway.

 

Following an order from the Prime Minister’s Office as public confidence in the Royal Thai Police continues to tumble with waves of corruption allegations at all levels battering the force week after week, the National Police Commissioner, General Damrongsak Kittiprapat, has ordered the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the latest claims made by whistleblower extraordinaire Chuwit Kamolvisit relating to senior officers within the force and their links to huge worldwide gambling operations and even international oil trading.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/02/15/police-linked-to-online-gambling-cash-flow/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-02-16

 

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[FinChin67]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha has given the police chief his backing to get to the bottom of the latest affair linked to the force

????????

[Srikcir]

17 minutes ago, FinChin67 said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha has given the police chief his backing to get to the bottom of the latest affair linked to the force

????????

Make that ... 'PM Prayut who is Chairman of the National Police Commission who oversees the RTP since 2014' ...

 

But other than facing questions about his appointed leadership of the RTP from Ministers of Parliament, he is not accountable for knowingly or unknowingly of RTP corruption. Parliament has no investigative authority (ie., issue subpoenas, compel testimony) and the political watchdog law enforcement agency Department of Special Investigations (DSI) that can investigate is supervised by Prayut. 

[SuperSilverHaze]

Gambling is such a pathetic state of mind. Monoco, etc aside...pretty much the domain of the uneducated, lower classes. A tax on the poor and simple minded.

 

At least poker involves some skill*

[harleyclarkey]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

taking bribes from the illegal gaming industry moonlighting as masters of business and high finance including living abroad while being absent from work for long periods. 

Can you really believe this? Living abroad, not turning up for work and clearly having assets way, way beyond their salaries. 

Now which group of tourists just love to gamble- and have no issue with a bribe??? 

These guys make the Keystone cops look good. 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Latest revelations by Chuwit Kamolvisit focus on police officers within the force taking bribes from the illegal gaming industry moonlighting as masters of business and high finance including living abroad while being absent from work for long periods. 

Seems Gen Damrongsak has his work cut-out cleaning up his boys in brown.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Seems Gen Damrongsak has his work cut-out cleaning up his boys in brown.

Rotten from stem to core.

[2baht]

Chuwit has became a regular pit bull, keep up the good work and go for the jugular! ????

[zzaa09]

9 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Rotten from stem to core.

Uh-huh.

For decades upon decades. 

[IamNoone88]

There will be a couple of fall guys, sacrificial lambs. These two, like Icarus, likely flew to close to the sun. The broader question ... just two? Unlikely.

[TheFishman1]

It’s just amazing how the ex massage king of Thailand has all this information about the corruption of the upper levels of the police department and he’s telling all and nobody has even whacked the guy yet he’s a brave guy. As far as corruption in Thailand it’s just part of the make up. CR Tit

[kcpattaya]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

he is not accountable for knowingly or unknowingly of RTP corruption

On another note: After careful investigation and research, the RTP was not able to find any evidence of prostitution in Thailand.

[Andycoops]

Hardly news as these illegal gambling operations can only operate because of the pay offs, not to mention that many are run by the criminals in uniform in the first place.

[ChrisY1]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Make that ... 'PM Prayut who is Chairman of the National Police Commission who oversees the RTP since 2014' ...

 

But other than facing questions about his appointed leadership of the RTP from Ministers of Parliament, he is not accountable for knowingly or unknowingly of RTP corruption. Parliament has no investigative authority (ie., issue subpoenas, compel testimony) and the political watchdog law enforcement agency Department of Special Investigations (DSI) that can investigate is supervised by Prayut. 

Comical really, if it wasn't so serious.

[thailand49]

49 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

It’s just amazing how the ex massage king of Thailand has all this information about the corruption of the upper levels of the police department and he’s telling all and nobody has even whacked the guy yet he’s a brave guy. As far as corruption in Thailand it’s just part of the make up. CR Tit

maybe ridding his competition?????

[koele2]

It is highly likely the guys investigating these high ranking bribe takers from underworld gambling interests will soon become the next high ranking bribe takers from underworld gambling interests.

[soalbundy]

2 hours ago, harleyclarkey said:

Can you really believe this? Living abroad, not turning up for work and clearly having assets way, way beyond their salaries. 

Now which group of tourists just love to gamble- and have no issue with a bribe??? 

These guys make the Keystone cops look good. 

 

Be fair, at least they weren't playing bridge with a group of old expats.

[Muhendis]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

National Police Commissioner, General Damrongsak Kittiprapat, has ordered the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the latest claims

Shame that nothing happens until an order is given. The office of the inspector general (OIG) is probably part of the system and will only look as far as the tip of it's nose.

Rather like the police and army looking at Pattaya and seeing no prostitution.

There is no such thing as an independent watchdog keeping an eye on corruption.

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, IamNoone88 said:

There will be a couple of fall guys, sacrificial lambs. These two, like Icarus, likely flew to close to the sun. The broader question ... just two? Unlikely.

Not on my watch.....what?.....oh ,Well I was probably in Paris at the time that happened, I'll erm, look into it.

[soalbundy]

Just now, Muhendis said:

Shame that nothing happens until an order is given. The office of the inspector general (OIG) is probably part of the system and will only look as far as the tip of it's nose.

Rather like the police and army looking at Pattaya and seeing no prostitution.

There is no such thing as an independent watchdog keeping an eye on corruption.

All part of the charm, like the waiter saying "OK, that was the tip but where is the back hander"

[Dan O]

2 hours ago, 2baht said:

Chuwit has became a regular pit bull, keep up the good work and go for the jugular! ????

The real question is who is feeding him this info? He wouldn't have access to most of the info he's supplied unless someone is feeding it to him or he's been involved directly

[2baht]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Rotten from stem to core.

Yes...........normal mode of operation! Carry on, chaps! 

[Purdey]

The weird part is historically a policeman gets promoted by paying money gained through corruption. That surely means every police general had to go through this process in order to become a general.

So what do they do? They appoint a police general to investigate other policemen and they say all this with a straight face.

Couldn't they find an institution like Treasury to investigate tax avoidance? 

[shackleton]

Corruption is rampant with in the Police top to bottom

Being going for years can't be stopped to many on the take ????

Now we read people in Authority taking holidays not turning up for work 

And so on 

It's unbelievable but the sad fact its true ????

[Bangkok Barry]

Why do you think that Thailand, I think alone among all or most of its neighbouring countries, doesn't allow legal casinos to operate? And have you noticed how the recent talk about allowing them has now gone very, very quiet.

[Callmeishmael]

They just told a Police General to investigate police corruption.  ????

 

Either he already knows about the corruption and has been participating in it for years, or he is hopelessly blind and incompetent!  Having the police investigate themselves is just a farce.

[Reigntax]

5 hours ago, SuperSilverHaze said:

Gambling is such a pathetic state of mind. Monoco, etc aside...pretty much the domain of the uneducated, lower classes. A tax on the poor and simple minded.

 

At least poker involves some skill*

You can probably bet you’re right!!

 

And I will bet the result will be nothing more than involve brooms and carpet 

[rbkk]

With the election coming up I'm sure a party named something like "The Bleach Party" would be a winner. I vote Chuwit 4 PM!

[Caldera]

I honestly don't see how this police farce could be reformed, it's rotten through and through. You'd have to completely rebuild it from scratch, but who will ever do that!?

[Eric Loh]

12 minutes ago, Caldera said:

I honestly don't see how this police farce could be reformed, it's rotten through and through. You'd have to completely rebuild it from scratch, but who will ever do that!?

Really need a political leader with the political will and courage like Lee Kuan Yew or a dedicated and non corruptable police officer like Peter Fitzroy Godber who clean up corruption in Hong Kong. Any politician or police officer that fits this profile in Thailand?