Police arrest police! Big Joke's team go after immigration major for 10MB abduction/extortion of Chinese businessman

[webfact]

Daily News Thai Caption: An immigration inspector was responsible

 

Daily News reported that police would be arresting police in the latest scandal to hit Thailand's RTP.

 

Arrest warrants would be sought today for an immigration policeman of the rank of major and a non-commissioned RTP officer under his command.

 

They are alleged to have abducted and extorted a Chinese businessman who has now fled the country.

 

It comes after a 38 year old female interpreter of the Chinese language went to the Din Daeng police.

 

"A" feared for her safety after her employer - a 62 year old Chinese businessman named only as "Tee" - was extorted out of more than 10 million baht by police.

 

This followed a trip to immigration at Chaeng Wattana's government complex.

 

The businessman was unable to do business and ended up fleeing Thailand to go and live with his son in his homeland.

 

Yesterday Royal Thai Police deputy Pol Lt-Gen Surachate "Big Joke" Hakpan - perhaps the highest profile policeman in Thailand - said that his investigative team were brought in.

 

They discovered the route taken in an van after the abduction of the businessman who was released following the transfer of money from a relative.

 

"We pretty much know who they are," he said ominously. "There are 3-4 police involved as well as a member (or members) of the public".

 

He said that arrest warrants would be applied for today for a policeman of the rank of major with immigration and another RTP non-commissioned officer under his command.

 

He added that because the victim in the case had left Thailand it was proving difficult to ascertain what his business dealings were.

 

This latest case is a further headache for RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Since he took over in September there has been one scandal after another whether it be the connivance of police with "grey Chinese" investors, motorcades for cash to Pattaya, police mixed up in gambling and drugs, or the very public extortion of a Taiwanese actress and her party.

 

More than 100 immigration officers from the north east and north are also being investigated for corruption.

 

Three officers under suspicion are said to be former classmates of Surachate.

 

Much of this is being led by Surachate who himself was mysteriously demoted several years ago before his rehabilitation.

 

It is also being fueled by a series of salacious revelations from whistleblower Chuwit Kamolwisit who enjoys strong public backing.

 

The perception of the Thai public is that their police are rotten to the core, but in the last 6 months this has come to the fore.

 

However while there have been many claims and many investigations started, many observers are still waiting to see corrupt officers led away in shackles.

 

Too often in Thailand investigations die out with the Thai press moving onto other areas without following up.

 

It remains to be seen if the current pressure being faced by the RTP is just rhetoric or leads to serious action.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-03-21

 

- 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.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[ThailandRyan]

Wait I thought this was a Chinese on Chinese crime....or is the amount similar....

[zzaa09]

Well......it is a twisted protection racket of one sort or another. 

They do what they have to do.

[soi3eddie]

Nothing like tipping off those involved that they are going to get arrested. Plenty of time to destroy evidence, intimidate or pay off any witnesses or do a runner!

 

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"We pretty much know who they are," he said ominously.

So why not arrest them without warning?

[Dogmatix]

40 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Nothing like tipping off those involved that they are going to get arrested. Plenty of time to destroy evidence, intimidate or pay off any witnesses or do a runner!

 

This means negotiations are ongoing.  Otherwise just swoop down and arrest them after making vague statements like we are doing our best to find out who they are.

[HuskerDo2]

What's this? the RTP involved in criminal activity? Shocking... not!!

Edited March 21, 2023 by HuskerDo2

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, HuskerDo2 said:

What's this? the RTP involved in criminal activity? Shocking... not!!

yes it does sound a bit strange and really really hard to believe .........

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Nothing like tipping off those involved that they are going to get arrested. Plenty of time to destroy evidence, intimidate or pay off any witnesses or do a runner!

 

You really don't think that they'll be under surveillance pending the warrant approvals?

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

This means negotiations are ongoing.  Otherwise just swoop down and arrest them after making vague statements like we are doing our best to find out who they are.

They actually intimated that they do know who they are but need arrest warrants.

[geisha]

As these people are highly placed, not ordinary crooks, it’s a delicate situation , arrested with great a deal of precautions. About time there was a big clear out .

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, mikebell said:

So why not arrest them without warning?

To use a British expression "It's simply not cricket old boy"

[AmySukwan]

Scary but I'm glad they're trying to police their own

[klauskunkel]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

It remains to be seen if the current pressure being faced by the RTP is just rhetoric or leads to serious action.

You really should save this particular phrase wrapping up an article about police corruption, you will need it again and again.

Edited March 21, 2023 by klauskunkel

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

This latest case is a further headache for RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Since he took over in September there has been one scandal after another whether it be the connivance of police with "grey Chinese" investors, motorcades for cash to Pattaya, police mixed up in gambling and drugs, or the very public extortion of a Taiwanese actress and her party.

 

More than 100 immigration officers from the north east and north are also being investigated for corruption.

Paints a rosy picture of Thailands finest.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wait I thought this was a Chinese on Chinese crime....or is the amount similar....

Hard to tell who is more corrupt.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, mikebell said:

So why not arrest them without warning?

Because if arrests were made it would have to go to court, and then we would learn how corrupt the justice system is.

Better to let them disappear, or through lack of evidence it just goes quiet.

 

[Tengu]

6 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Nothing like tipping off those involved that they are going to get arrested. Plenty of time to destroy evidence, intimidate or pay off any witnesses or do a runner!

 

Probably similar to the reason they are planning on arresting 'The Don' here in the USA after sort of announcing it on Friday and why they come forth with such an insignificant charge.

If he takes a runner people will (unconstitutionally) consider him guilty. But such a jury would more easily be impaneled. 

If he sends around brown envelopes there is a high likelihood that someone will turn states evidence then there will be another mess. I would expect those brown envelopes to have little to no connection to the Don himself but to others for whom a scrap of paper with the word Pardon, might be enough.

 

The blunt and Cragganmore single malt have gone to my head so I'm gonna take my head to my bed.

 

 

 

[digger70]

6 hours ago, mikebell said:

So why not arrest them without warning?

Got to give them time to do a runner/pay off some Mates

[Chongalulu]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

62 year old Chinese businessman named only as "Tee" - was extorted out of more than 10 million baht by police

Well he was just asking for it with that name!  … 'Tee money' …????? 

[Bundooman]

I find all this so laughable:

 

A chinese businessman, (here legally)? is fleeced out of 10M baht

Results in a trip to Chaeng wattana Immigration, and they pretty much know who they are"? Hmmn.

It is a Major and an RTP NCO.....

They are applying for an arrest warrant today.

The major and his accomplice(s) don't follow the news/listen to the radio or watch TV -so they don't know?

They will arrest him and them.

 

If they are still in Thailand.........

Nothing like a heads-up on your pending arrest, eh?

 

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

3 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Is he not Chinese and is he not a man? What about Englishman, Welshman, etc. not derogatory in your 'woke' mind because they are Caucasian, a sort of reverse racism. Woke nonsense again.

Someone is watching too much FOX and is a bit wound up about their latest dog whistle catch phrase. Take a breath and just switch to a different station. Everything is gunna be alright

[elwood]

1 hour ago, Bundooman said:

I find all this so laughable:

 

A chinese businessman, (here legally)? is fleeced out of 10M baht

Results in a trip to Chaeng wattana Immigration, and they pretty much know who they are"? Hmmn.

It is a Major and an RTP NCO.....

They are applying for an arrest warrant today.

The major and his accomplice(s) don't follow the news/listen to the radio or watch TV -so they don't know?

They will arrest him and them.

 

If they are still in Thailand.........

Nothing like a heads-up on your pending arrest, eh?

 

According to the other newspaper, three of them reported to their commander, and are being questioned; one did not.

[Tropposurfer]

It's like the Benny Hill Show aint' it ... skit after crazy skit lol ????????????

[Mywayboy]

Cannot believe RTP are accused of any type of Corruption they are all Teflon Coated

[sammieuk1]

After Xi's visit to the war criminal the next logical step could be a kremlin spokesman threatening to nuke Pattaya ????

[mancub]

3 hours ago, nchuckle said:

Can we refer to you as a scouser without you frothing with woke indignation..err..'Liverpool man'..? ???? 

Liverpudlian. surely ?

[soalbundy]

2 hours ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

Someone is watching too much FOX and is a bit wound up about their latest dog whistle catch phrase. Take a breath and just switch to a different station. Everything is gunna be alright

I don't watch television and if I did it wouldn't be Fox. These days it is impossible to get unbiased reporting on anything so I am skeptical of everything. I read 4 English online newspapers and 2 German magazines and form my own opinions that aren't necessarily correct. I rely on my own common sense for subjective feelings of what is correct. It might say something that I hold Ricky Gervais in high regard as a sensible comedian and film maker (not PC)

[Damrongsak]

The cops and their tracking dog are hot on their trail.

 

[Andycoops]

More keystone cops, warnings your about to be arrested, no transparency after the arrest with cases being swept under the carpet, as usual...

 

It's all just headline stuff trying desperately to keep their heads above water before they sink into the abyss.