Crackdown on Sukhumvit Beggars Reveals Hidden Wealth

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

In an effort to improve the image of Thailand, police, alongside officials from the Immigration Bureau and the Homeless People Protection Centre, conducted a crackdown today in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area, rounding up 12 beggars. The operation unearthed unexpected findings, including a Thai national found with 1.3 million baht in cash and bank deposits.

 

The group apprehended comprised eight Thai citizens, two Cambodians, a Laotian, and one Burmese national. In a surprising twist, a search of one Thai individual's lodgings unveiled 300,000 baht in cash and a bank book indicating a balance of one million baht.

 

 

Authorities argue that the presence of beggars negatively impacts the country's image. The rounded-up Thai individuals are now facing legal proceedings at the Lumpini police station. Meanwhile, the foreign nationals will be charged with illegal entry and begging.

 

This operation highlights the complexity of the issue, with some beggars possessing substantial hidden wealth, raising questions about the motivations and operations behind street begging. The authorities continue to address both legal and social implications as part of their broader initiative to enhance the capital's public image.

 

-- 2024-12-13

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

From the top, right down to the bottom, they are all at it. 

[Hawaiian]

  On 12/13/2024 at 12:24 PM, Mr Meeseeks said:

From the top, right down to the bottom, they are all at it. 

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And yet they continue to get contributions from sympathetic donors.

[Gobbler]

  On 12/13/2024 at 11:29 AM, snoop1130 said:

The group apprehended comprised eight Thai citizens, two Cambodians, a Laotian, and one Burmese national. In a surprising twist, a search of one Thai individual's lodgings unveiled 300,000 baht in cash and a bank book indicating a balance of one million baht.

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I'm sure there was a search warrant for the man's home. 

 

Yeah right!

[AndreasHG]

The most disturbing aspect of the whole set up is the use of small children as a tool to obtain more money.
Children who grow up on a sidewalk, next to adults, who only a DNA test could prove are their natural parents. And no one knows what happens to them as soon as they grow up and disappear from the streets.

[ChrisY1]

Many BKK beggars were "owned" by gangs....send them off in the morning...keep a watch on them during the day, and collect in the evening. 

Not sure if that's still the case

[dddave]

  On 12/14/2024 at 3:02 AM, ChrisY1 said:

Many BKK beggars were "owned" by gangs....send them off in the morning...keep a watch on them during the day, and collect in the evening. 

Not sure if that's still the case

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Quite a few years ago, one of the local TV news stations had a video crew follow a pick-up truck just after dawn as it picked beggars up along Sukhumvit and Silom, then traveled down to Sa Keao and delivered them to an illegal crossing into Cambodia.  Several of the "cripples" seemed to walk along just fine.

[spidermike007]

When I was living and working in India I realized that many of the beggars were doing this professionally or working for professionals who were collecting a significant amount of money from their work. So I started carrying around a daypack with fruit inside it, and when I would be approached by a beggar I would offer them a banana or an orange. The professionals would look at me with a great deal of disdain, whereas the real beggars would accept the fruit with gratitude as they were truly hungry. It worked! 

[mokwit]

  On 12/13/2024 at 9:18 PM, Gobbler said:

 

I'm sure there was a search warrant for the man's home. 

 

Yeah right!

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It seems to me that if the police arrest you they can automatically search your home, presumably you somehow "agree" to this, no warrant required

[mokwit]

  On 12/14/2024 at 4:35 AM, spidermike007 said:

The professionals would look at me with a great deal of disdain, whereas the real beggars would accept the fruit with gratitude as they were truly hungry. It worked! 

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Those being run by beggar masters are starving hungry. The money is taken off them. If I offer food and they want money I pass.

[newbee2022]

Seems not too different from business in EU, where beggar gangs are organized over many countries. Most gangs/clans are originated in Eastern Europe or Middle East

[Burma Bill]

  On 12/13/2024 at 11:29 AM, snoop1130 said:

a Thai national found with 1.3 million baht in cash and bank deposits.

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It "beggars belief"!!

[wavodavo]

  On 12/14/2024 at 4:35 AM, spidermike007 said:

When I was living and working in India I realized that many of the beggars were doing this professionally or working for professionals who were collecting a significant amount of money from their work. So I started carrying around a daypack with fruit inside it, and when I would be approached by a beggar I would offer them a banana or an orange. The professionals would look at me with a great deal of disdain, whereas the real beggars would accept the fruit with gratitude as they were truly hungry. It worked! 

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Years ago I used to drink regularly at the Golden Bar at the Nana Hotel in BKK. and every night an old Thai man with a speaker in a  wooden box hanging around is neck playing a tune  and him singing. He was wearing blind man dark  glasses and was being lead by a lady who had a begging bowl.Everyone used  to give them money thinking he was blind and feeling sorry for him.My mates and I were always suspicious and one night during Songram as  they went to cross Soi 4 which was very busy the lady took a step forward and suddenly a motorbike  came along and the old man saw it and pulled her back and saved her.There was so much noise there that he would't have heard the bike coming and he looked at .That proved our theory that he was not blind.He did that for many years and got away with it.

[drgoon]

  On 12/14/2024 at 6:27 AM, wavodavo said:

Years ago I used to drink regularly at the Golden Bar at the Nana Hotel in BKK. and every night an old Thai man with a speaker in a  wooden box hanging around is neck playing a tune  and him singing. He was wearing blind man dark  glasses and was being lead by a lady who had a begging bowl.Everyone used  to give them money thinking he was blind and feeling sorry for him.My mates and I were always suspicious and one night during Songram as  they went to cross Soi 4 which was very busy the lady took a step forward and suddenly a motorbike  came along and the old man saw it and pulled her back and saved her.There was so much noise there that he would't have heard the bike coming and he looked at .That proved our theory that he was not blind.He did that for many years and got away with it.

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Lol yeah I remember them. One of my regulars told me they were fake. I always gave them a drink chit haha...

[hotchilli]

  On 12/13/2024 at 11:29 AM, snoop1130 said:

The operation unearthed unexpected findings, including a Thai national found with 1.3 million baht in cash and bank deposits.

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Beats working... sit on their arse all day with their hand-out.

[loong]

  On 12/13/2024 at 11:29 AM, snoop1130 said:

raising questions about the motivations and operations behind street begging.

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It's more rewarding and much easier than working!

[herfiehandbag]

  On 12/13/2024 at 9:18 PM, Gobbler said:

 

I'm sure there was a search warrant for the man's home. 

 

Yeah right!

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I'll bet the cash and bank books are now in "safe keeping"!

[anchadian]

Don't all rush and set up a banana fritter stall:

 

UPDATE: The Thai female suspects later told police the near 2 million baht she has didn't come from begging but from selling banana fritters

 

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1867857323148148937

 

[black tabby12345]

a Thai national found with 1.3 million baht in cash and bank deposits.

 

Some beggars are more affluent than many of the working Thais.

 

[Tiger1980]

  On 12/13/2024 at 8:56 PM, Hawaiian said:

And yet they continue to get contributions from sympathetic donors.

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https://www.facebook.com/reel/1077858950415008?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&fs=e&fs=e

[Kinok Farang]

No Romanians?

[Andrew65]

  On 12/14/2024 at 4:54 AM, newbee2022 said:

Seems not too different from business in EU, where beggar gangs are organized over many countries. Most gangs/clans are originated in Eastern Europe or Middle East

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My work sometimes takes me to Birmingham UK. It's not unusual to see beggars at the traffic lights there, what look like eastern European gypsy women, and a few Brits occasionally.

[Gobbler]

  On 12/14/2024 at 4:41 AM, mokwit said:

It seems to me that if the police arrest you they can automatically search your home, presumably you somehow "agree" to this, no warrant required

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No

They need a proper search warrant from the court. 

 

If you are ignorant of your rights, we will assume you have no rights. 

 

[JamesPhuket10]

  On 12/14/2024 at 7:12 AM, hotchilli said:

Beats working... sit on their arse all day with their hand-out.

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Those people have a different name, they are called civil servants or council workers in the West. 😃

[Gobbler]

  On 12/14/2024 at 4:41 AM, mokwit said:

It seems to me that if the police arrest you they can automatically search your home, presumably you somehow "agree" to this, no warrant required

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That would be very convenient for the police.  You are in jail and they are searching your home.  

 

That's a big moneymaker. 

 

And for some of you who think the police can do what they want, guess what, they can, because you are all to stupid to tell them no. 

 

Ignorance for the sake of being ignorant is disgusting. 

 

[bokningar]

  On 12/14/2024 at 12:48 PM, Gobbler said:

 

That would be very convenient for the police.  You are in jail and they are searching your home.  

 

That's a big moneymaker. 

 

And for some of you who think the police can do what they want, guess what, they can, because you are all to stupid to tell them no. 

 

Ignorance for the sake of being ignorant is disgusting. 

 

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Great to se someone who really knows Thai law.

[john donson]

never give anything, like stray dogs...

[newbee2022]

  On 12/14/2024 at 12:34 PM, Andrew65 said:

My work sometimes takes me to Birmingham UK. It's not unusual to see beggars at the traffic lights there, what look like eastern European gypsy women, and a few Brits occasionally.

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Well, sometimes they stage heartbreaking scenes with a baby in their arms. And, as we now, one way to become a millionaire.

 

[mokwit]

  On 12/14/2024 at 12:48 PM, Gobbler said:

 

That would be very convenient for the police.  You are in jail and they are searching your home.  

 

That's a big moneymaker. 

 

And for some of you who think the police can do what they want, guess what, they can, because you are all to stupid to tell them no. 

 

Ignorance for the sake of being ignorant is disgusting. 

 

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"agree" was in inverted commas for a reason. I am talking about Thailand, you may be extrapolating from a Western country, that is not to say that what you are saying might be the case in law. I am wondering why people seemingly invariably agree to let the police search their apartment. You have your rights when taken to a safe house, but people seem to confess. This is not America.

 

 

[BarBoy]

If I am ever in Bangkok I never give to beggars on Sukhumvit road around Nana.

 

They are mostly, if not all, liars and cheats.

 

That area in general is all one big scam!