Former Minister Reveals Alleged Phuket Police Extortion Racket

[ChipButty]

Where do you start? having lived here a long time I would say the police are not the problem only you clowns riding about with no helmet or a license so who's fault is that? You invite it, 

Where you should start is the Land Departments and the local Tessaban that's pure unadulterated corruption, You have no way around it, and that is not just Farang, Thai's included. 

 

 

[biggles45]

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

there must be an increase in salaries for police officers to. remove the temptation and excuse for corruption

That would have no effect at all. Corruption is so entrenched in the police force (indeed in all of Thailand) that they will just continue to collect. It's what they join up for! 

[proton]

50 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Government workers including police are lowly paid. This drives the urge to engage in corruption. Majority of Thais don’t pay tax so government revenue is low. So the root cause is the system of government. 

 

Not lowly paid by Thai standards and they get cheap loans and good pensions, stop making excuses for these thieves.

[ChipButty]

4 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

That would have no effect at all. Corruption is so entrenched in the police force (indeed in all of Thailand) that they will just continue to collect. It's what they join up for! 

It's what they pay to join up for, 

[stevenl]

First a former MP comes out with claims, now a former minister.

Why not speak out when you have some influence?

[ujayujay]

What does "police extortion" mean in Phuket? It's happening all over Thailand. The sacred cow of corruption seems to be protected nationwide

[Pinot]

When the Army took over, the corruption virtually ended. Now that these idiots are in power there is nothing to stop anyone. 

 

I loved that dictator which he was still in there. 

[RJRS1301]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Shutterstock

 

Former finance minister Sommai Phasee has made explosive claims about corrupt police practices in Phuket, suggesting tourists are being extorted for bribes. According to Sommai, officers are reportedly stopping foreign visitors—particularly those on motorcycles—for minor violations and demanding on-the-spot payments ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 baht to avoid arrest.

 

Sharing his allegations on Facebook, Sommai expressed his frustrations, stating that corruption is a pervasive issue throughout Thailand. His revelations have prompted serious concerns about the impact of such practices on the country’s reputation as a tourist hotspot.

 

"How can Thai tourism thrive when corruption is so deeply rooted in the system?" Sommai questioned. He painted a bleak picture of systemic corruption extending beyond just the police force, implicating high-level officials, politicians, and business leaders as well.

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Post

 

The former minister described how officers target tourists for supposed infractions like not wearing helmets or lacking licences. Instead of receiving official fines, unsuspecting tourists are coerced into handing over substantial cash bribes, affecting their overall experience of Thailand.

 

Sommai’s claims have brought renewed scrutiny to the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in the country. He criticised the National Anti-Corruption Commission, suggesting that many citizens perceive it as another entity susceptible to influence and monetary "fixes."

 

 

 

He highlighted other recent corruption scandals, such as alleged bribery in government projects, illicit land sales, and accusations against members of the Football Association of Thailand. Such instances underline the challenges facing Thailand in addressing systemic corruption.

 

Beyond the police, Sommai called for comprehensive reforms and greater public accountability. He urged Thai citizens to hold officials responsible, especially amidst recent political changes. He voiced his concern about corruption becoming so ingrained in the country's fabric, causing many to lose hope in reform.

 

“Corruption affects us all—it’s about the everyday people who suffer because of it,” Sommai stated, emphasising the broader societal impacts.

 

In light of these serious allegations, there’s a pressing need for concrete actions aimed at restoring trust and integrity within Thailand’s institutions. Sommai's statements have undoubtedly ignited debates on whether currently embedded corruption can feasibly be dismantled or if it requires an overhaul of existing systems.

 

As tourism remains a critical sector for Thailand, the spotlight is now on how authorities will respond to these devastating claims. For the millions visiting the country annually, the hope is for a trustworthy environment reflecting the warmth and hospitality Thailand is famed for, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-17

 

 

Hope he does not have a motor vehicle accident 

 

[spidermike007]

There is nothing surprising nor is there anything shocking about this claim, it's highly accurate. The RTP at it's inception seems to have been created with a status quo from the government. We will NOT pay you a living wage, but you have a franchise, and the limit of your income is based solely on your own creativity and initiative, and you will always be protected. Is that not the case? 

 

This does not just apply to Phuket nor does it apply just to foreigners, although foreigners do seem to be targeted in certain tourist areas. This applies to the RTP Nationwide and it certainly applies to the Thai people just as much as it does foreigners they are barely law enforcement agents and they spend a lot of their time and effort simply collecting revenue. 

 

 

[jippytum]

We kow the RTP are corrupt. However i don't believe anyone would pay 20,000  for not wearing a helmet or not having a driving licience

[chuang]

Leopard will not change it's spots.

[Davedub]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

restoring trust and integrity within Thailand’s institutions

 

I think a good start would be from a place of complete honesty. The above statement seems predicated on the idea that up until recently, trust and integrity were to be found within Thailand's institutions, which is quite obviously nonsense to anyone who has been here for any amount of time.

 

I can't help but feel that starting from a place of dishonesty is destined to failure.

 

To be clear; in living memory, there have never been acceptable levels of trust and integrity within Thailand's institutions. If the issues are truly to be tackled, I believe starting from the actual, ground zero truth would make a far better starting point.

[sambum]

Afew years ago, a mate of mine got stopped at a checkpoint for not wearing a helmet whilst riding a motorbike. He was told to join the queue, and he said "But why are there 2 queues?" The policeman replied "One is the 500 baht queue and the other is the 300 baht queue". He asked "What's the difference?" The policeman explained "If you join the 500 baht queue you will get a ticket which you have to take to the local police station. There you will have to wait for a couple of hours, and then you will pay your fine and get a receipt". My friend asked "What happens at the 300 baht queue?" He was told "You pay your 300 baht, do not get a receipt and you can go on your way". Needless to say, he chose the 300 baht queue which was substantially longer that the 500 baht queue! 

P.S. This was not in Phuket, but another tourist destination!

[sambum]

1 hour ago, renaissanc said:

You have to pay a lot of money to be transferred to a government department in Phuket, especially to the Police. You pay a lot, but you'll make a big profit through corruption. This is common knowledge.

 

My thai wife has a relation who wanted to join the Police Force. His parents said to him "Sorry, but it costs a lot of money to join the Police Force"

[sambum]

50 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Where do you start? having lived here a long time I would say the police are not the problem only you clowns riding about with no helmet or a license so who's fault is that? You invite it, 

Where you should start is the Land Departments and the local Tessaban that's pure unadulterated corruption, You have no way around it, and that is not just Farang, Thai's included. 

 

 

 

My wife's family had some land left to them,but had to pay to get a  guy from the local Land Department/Office to come and take measurements of the plots to make sure that everything was "legal and above board",(😀) and everybody that was a beneficiary was to get a certificate of ownership which could take a couple of months. After 6 months, no body got a certificate and apparently the paperwork had been "lost". So they had to get the guy from the Land Department/Office to come and do the job again, and guess what - they had to pay him again - although they had "lost" the paperwork!

[sambum]

53 minutes ago, stevenl said:

First a former MP comes out with claims, now a former minister.

Why not speak out when you have some influence?

 

Instant demotion or "moved to an inactive post" could well be a reason!

[Peabody]

2 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

To tackle corruption, along with dismissing the guilty, there must be an increase in salaries for police officers to. remove the temptation and excuse for corruption.

They tried that with the customs department maybe 15 years ago.

No change.

[renaissanc]

1 hour ago, Ombra said:

I came to work in Thailand in the late 1980s. In those days, a person's baggage used to come by sea. When mine arrived, a bloke phoned to tell me. When I asked him how long it would take to clear the Customs, he said it would be anything from six days to six months. Depending ...

I moved to Thailand in 1984. My few personal items arrived by sea. Customs made up the import charges according to their imagination. Following the guidance of the Agent, I ended up having to pay each of the officers 500 Baht to free the personal items.

[Aussie999]

Can't be true  otherwise they wouldn't have "Royal" in their title... Also  can't be true, otherwise he's suggesting us expats have been right, about systemic corruptio, for years.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, Pinot said:

When the Army took over, the corruption virtually ended. Now that these idiots are in power there is nothing to stop anyone. 

 

I loved that dictator which he was still in there. 

Not sure what meds you're on... But the corruption never ceased, in fact the military PM  got a lot richer, as did his cronies.

[simple1]

Been going on for decades and associated investigations such as  paying for promotions (where does the cash come from - LOL)_ Nothing ever happens with meaningful outcomes. How about he who cannot be named set up a commission of enquiry with all necessary powers and protection, salary reviews, terms of employment, crystal clear guide for promotions, prosecutions and so on. Say six months to deliver recommendations and then pass relevant legislation for enforcement. Follow up every three months for results of implementation / enforcement.

[kuzmabruk]

I love the corruption.  It is convenient and cheap.  All of Asia is corrupt.  Middle East, Africa.   People don’t bother you in Thailand.   A little bribery here and there.   Sooooooo easy is life in the land of ~~~pid!!!

[sikishrory]

From the top down.

[MadAtMatrix]

Not Phuket, but why are there no live CCTV cameras on Beach Road, and especially in front of Soi 9. I guess they wouldn't want people to be watching them hand out fines to foreigners all day long, and all of the "wares" on sale at the coconut bar. 


https://ioc.pattaya.go.th/live-cctv

[Jonathan Swift]

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The RTP is the most incompetent institution in Thailand....Too lazy to do anything, corrupt, and no clue what the real laws are. They all should be investigated person by person, checked their tax form and assets and fired if the administration is not correct. The RTP have an attitude that they are untouchable and behave like that, with their Christmas decorated uniforms...Reform to a working policeforce should be much much better for Thailand

Somebody, such as the prime minister, would have to clean house from top to bottom in order to do this right. If a proper authority doesn't lead the charge it's unlikely to succeed. Or, as in the US, body cameras on at all times. Maybe even offer rewards within the ranks for ratting out their compadres. However many honest cops there are, and who knows, but they are probably not happy with their partners. 

Start with the towns with the worst problems. Just making suggestions based on my humble opinion.

[Jonathan Swift]

4 hours ago, jwl53 said:

Not just phuket but where there is a foreigners

Waiting for traffic light surrounded by thais with no helmets, the cop signalled me out of about 50 bikes

The cop demanded 5000 I told him I want go police station to pay fine, he kicked and screamed I cannot got to pay him, until I rang my wife, first he refused to her demanding me to pay him eventually he spoke to her and after a few minutes off we went to the cop shop, (20 mtr away) after being made to wait and the descop refusing  to accept a complaint about the box cop the fine was paid receipt issued  FINE 400 baht!!!!! Ok I was in the wrong and accepted the fine but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It just occurred to me that maybe while sitting there you might call 191 and see who shows up. But bottom line, if you refuse to pay the bribe then what? What will they do? Haul you off for a beat down? 

[marin]

3 hours ago, Ombra said:

I came to work in Thailand in the late 1980s. In those days, a person's baggage used to come by sea. When mine arrived, a bloke phoned to tell me. When I asked him how long it would take to clear the Customs, he said it would be anything from six days to six months. Depending ...

What the heck are you talking about. 1987 landed here the first time and picked up my luggage in Don Muang Airport and the adventure began.  Seriously???

[baansgr]

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The RTP is the most incompetent institution in Thailand....Too lazy to do anything, corrupt, and no clue what the real laws are. They all should be investigated person by person, checked their tax form and assets and fired if the administration is not correct. The RTP have an attitude that they are untouchable and behave like that, with their Christmas decorated uniforms...Reform to a working policeforce should be much much better for Thailand

Name me a police force that is not corrupt?

[StayinThailand2much]

Thailand's Finest involved in extortion rackets... What is the world coming to? 🙄

[Jonathan Swift]

12 minutes ago, marin said:

What the heck are you talking about. 1987 landed here the first time and picked up my luggage in Don Muang Airport and the adventure began.  Seriously???

maybe in depended on the airline and/or the route flown