Major bribery ring in highways department uncovered

[snoop1130]

 

Thai police uncovered a major bribery ring involving senior officials from the Department of Highways, with evidence showing over 126 million baht in suspicious transactions. The funds were directly transferred to personal bank accounts and involved monthly payments as high as 100,000 baht.

 

Police raided the residence of 57 year old Noppadol, who serves as the senior mechanical engineer and head of the outbound Ubon Ratchathani Weigh Station. Alongside him, 59 year old Aneak, and 38 year old Thongchai, or Boy, were also detained. They are all implicated in a corruption and misconduct case under the jurisdiction of Thailand’s Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 3.

 

During the press briefing, held at 3.30pm yesterday, September 3, officials including Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Prasong Chelimpun, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), and representatives from the Ministry of Transport and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) disclosed the details of the operation dubbed Spot Check Cleanup.

 

Noppadol and Aneak are facing charges of dereliction of duty and corruption, while Thongchai is charged with abetting the corrupt practices. Another individual, 39 year old Prathin, who held the bank account used for the transactions, has also been summoned to face charges, said a police spokesperson.

 

“The competition in the business sector has given rise to the ‘sticker bribe’ issue. If officials get involved, it will impact the public and cause significant damage to the nation. The suspects have handled around 200 million baht over four years. We will pursue every individual involved.”

 

 

 

 

Initial investigations revealed that the bribery scheme involved depositing money into Prathin’s account from around 200 trucking operators in the northeastern region. These funds were then converted to cash. About 50 victims have come forward, but many remain silent due to fear of legal repercussions.

 

Money laundering

 

Prasong explained that the 200 million baht circulating through the suspects’ accounts originated from the trucking operators.

 

“This money was funnelled through Prathin’s account before being withdrawn as cash. We need to investigate further to identify all recipients.”

 

More in-depth investigations showed that the account used by Prathin had been active from August 2022 to June 2023, accumulating over 6,265,631 baht. Additionally, Thongchai’s financial records indicated over 126,460,745 baht in total transactions since 2015, with 31 transfers totalling 3,161,100 baht directed to Noppadol’s account.

 

The money laundering methods mainly involved ATM withdrawals, which were then handed over at predetermined locations. Noppadol’s account received 13,237,672 baht from 2019 to the present, and transfers from Aneak’s account contributed 5,526,500 baht between 2020 and 2023.

 

Further scrutiny revealed that Aneak also received direct monthly payments from trucking operators, ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 baht. Between 2020 and 2023, his account saw deposits amounting to 11,465,976 baht. These findings were crucial in leading to the arrests, reported KhaoSod.

 

The investigation is ongoing, and police believe more suspects will emerge.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-09-04

 

 

Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe

[Artisi]

Must be some sort of mistake, surely this sort of thing couldn't happen in Thailand. 

[OneMoreFarang]

I think I read about this scam at least 20 years ago.

Why did it take so long to "find" these criminals? Or are all officials taking bribes so nobody even considers that someone else taking bribes might be wrong? 

[stoutfella]

That this should happen in Thailand is quite amazing.

[ChrisY1]

And the police knew nothing about this? After all....they do run the highways:)

[rwill]

Remember those above you get upset if you are not sharing...

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The suspects have handled around 200 million baht over four years. We will pursue every individual involved.”

And every baht?

[herfiehandbag]

13 hours ago, Artisi said:

Must be some sort of mistake, surely this sort of thing couldn't happen in Thailand. 

Certainly, a clear misunderstanding!

[sammieuk1]

Is Major Bribery Ring the name of the commanding officer also known as Big Ring aka Big Bung 🤔

[Muhendis]

I have often wondered about these modified wagons. The ones with extra long bits on the back and the ones made wider near the top. They must be carrying extra weight greater than is permitted. 

At the weigh bridge "Over weight? That'l be 5,000 baht sir".

[klauskunkel]

This practice was uncovered and reported over by a Move Forward MP over a year ago, a Thaiger article. It is a shame that this Thaiger article doesn't credit or reference Move Forward...

[mikebell]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

We will pursue every individual involved.”

Except the big bosses.

[Red Forever]

Related to this subject: Whenever I walk down Suk or Silom roads I look up at the SkyTrain structure and think "I hope they didn't skimp on the reinforcing steel". On such seemingly small items e.g. being paid for rebar as per specification but buying smaller gauge hinges whether a structure is safe or not. Hope that the engineers and procurement officers were British/American or German. In this case it looks like extortion though. I hope.

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

Over the years whenever you see lorries with an extraordinary overhang of the load or even the Sugar cane lorries so overloaded that even turning is dangerous, you know somewhere somehow there is little of any oversight by the authorities and if there is oversight money has changed hands . 

Like all  road checks, some vehicles sail through even though you know they are illegal, overloaded, speeding etc. Overladen lorries are one of the causes of brake failure resulting in many accidents so lack of enforcement those corrupt officials are also complicit in accidents as well. 

[john donson]

corrupted society, nothing changes...too mutt profit