Thai Border Police Kidnap Gang Abducts, Tortures, And Extorts Thai People

[Jai Dee]

Warrants for eight more arrests issued

Extortion gang's total number reaches 21

Arrest warrants have been issued for eight more members of an extortion gang, led by Pol Capt Nat Chonnithiwani, for allegedly bringing trumped up drug charges against a pregnant woman who was forced to give birth in prison. Deputy national police chief Thanee Somboomsab said yesterday the eight suspects are members of the 42nd Border Police Patrol unit in Nakhon Si Thammarat. They are being sought for their alleged involvement in forcing Juthaporn Rodnoon, then two months pregnant, into confessing to the drug charges.

Mrs Juthaporn earlier called on the prosecution to drop its appeal against her after the lower court acquitted her of the charges. She was forced to give birth in prison while being remanded in custody during her trial. The woman filed a complaint against Pol Capt Nat and his gang at the Phetkasem police station.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[Frotting]

A book worth reading - -

"Democratization And Political Corruption In The Philippines And South Korea: A Comparative Analysis" ISSN: 0925-4994 (Print) or, 1573-0751 (Online).

Synopsis of the book: The Philippines tried to reform their police, and never quite made it. The Filipina Police are still every bit as corrupt as the Thai Police. However, the South Korean Police were reformed almost over night.

Discussion: Using the South Korean model as a relevant example, how did they do it? Starting in 1975, the South Korean government was in the throes of a leadership change, and the new government decided to tackle the problem of police corruption.

In a nutshell, the South Koreans, in the space of three years, 1975-1978, turned their very corrupt police into practically a model of dedicated civil servants.

How did the South Koreans do it?

1.)Using their strong military, and relying on the Korean cultural traditions of obedience, loyalty, and "group-think", simple decrees were issued. Overnight, it became illegal for police to accept bribes or to solicit bribes. It also became illegal for civilians to offer bribes.

2.)Punishment was swift and severe. The South Korean military was given the power, again by decree, to arrest non-complying cops, civilians, and gang members.

3.)Training programs and pay-boost programs for the police were immediately initiated.

4.)Older police were retired with adequate pensions.

5.)Younger police were recruited, trained at real police academies to Western standards, and given a pay grade competitive with other mid-level civil servants. The idealistic young recruits soon entirely replaced the corrupt older police.

Imagine duplicating that process here in Thailand. Imagine reforming all police, immigration, customs, and other civil servants in a 3-year programme, or even in a 5-year period.

Honestly, I don't believe that the Thai Police will ever reform. They are the most profitable gang in Thailand, and well-placed Thais use the Thai police as "enforcers"

It would take an Act of God to reform the Thai Police. If Thailand merely tried to pit military against police, as they did in South Korea in 1975, perhaps the military would win, but maybe all you get then is a new gang replacing the old gang.

In my opinion, Thais do not have the ability to save themselves from their own decadence and moral rot. In 1975, the Korea War was only 22 years in the past, having been concluded in a ceasefire in 1953. South Korea was still under U.S.A. and U.N. supervision in 1975, and that external guidance made a big difference.

Thailand is in sore need of some serious "External Supervision".

Just my opinion.

Judge Dredd

I think your observations are pretty well correct. Nothing will change in Thailand in the near future as it is in the interest of too many corrupt people to maintain the current status quo. The Thai mind set also does not help. 'The Kowtow' culture makes it very hard for an individual or group of individuals to protest and seek reform.

Perhaps the country does need some 'assistance' from outside, but like in Zimbabwe's case it won't come. Perhaps if they had more oil it might give the Americans incentive to 'intervene' - but then you'd just be swapping one form of oppression for another.

In general the Thais are a good people and deserve better. I'm regretting ever deciding to settle there, but where else is there in SE Asia? Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Phillipines - same-same.

[Frotting]

Of course, just maybe, it could be that the Thai Police have really and truly screwed up this time. When a Thai cop executes a tourist with a point-blank shot to the head, or when the Thai cops kidnap and rob a foreigner, I sincerely believe that most Thai people do not care. So what, it is just another foreigner. However, this time, a high-society "nice" upper crust Thai lady was abused by the little brown-shirted savages. Perhaps things will actually begin to change now, just maybe . . .

Judge Dredd

Don't hold your breath

Don't hold your breath

[Tony Clifton]

These stories are unbelievable, yet, mostly without making it to the newspapers, they happen every day here...

[Jai Dee]

Ministry to seek bail for 14 inmates if accusations proved

The Justice Ministry will seek bail for 14 inmates if it is found that they were forced to confess to drug charges by members of a Border Patrol Police extortion gang now in custody. Corrections Department chief Wanchai Rujanawong said his department has received complaints from 14 prisoners that they were forced to confess to trumped-up drug trafficking charges by members of a gang led by Pol Capt Nat Chonnithiwanit.

The law demands that the 14 prisoners must first petition to have their cases reviewed.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[Jai Dee]

Witnesses to identify rogue border patrol officers this morning

Director of Petchkasem Police Station Police General Anucha Uamcharoen (อนุชา อ่วมเจริญ) revealed that investigation authorities ushered in the 5 last suspected members of a rogue border patrol gang to be identified by witnesses. The 5 suspects submitted to arrest yesterday but have repeatedly pleaded not guilty in the case affirming that they have only turned themselves in to make their statements in court.

Nonetheless, if witnesses identify the 5 suspects authorities will add the information to collected evidence in the case which will also allow for the 5 alleged gang members to be held in custody. If the 5 are not pointed out by the witnesses, police plan to ask for a special court order to hold them for trial.

Police General Anucha stated though, that at the time being authorities will not yet call on Police General Somkiat Nuathong (สมเกียรติ เนื้อทอง) who was the superior of the gang and Director of the Border Patrol region 42. The 5 suspects have pointed out Police General Somkiat as ordering them to commit the alleged crimes.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 February 2008

[Jai Dee]

Border policemen plead innocence after surrender

Five more border police officers surrendered yesterday to answer charges of kidnapping, assault, and forcing bogus drug charges on a pregnant woman.

All maintained their innocence, claiming they had been doing their duty and following the orders of supervisors.

The officers' surrender brings to eight the number of alleged gang members who have turned themselves in to authorities.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry has set up a 20-member team to help 188 people who claim to be victims of rogue border policemen.

Pol Sgt-Maj Suwit Sukthawi, Pol Sgt-Maj Rangsiman Sukkaew, Pol Sgt-Maj Niran Taemchuay, Pol Sgt Apisak Polsawas, and Pol Sgt Panung Duangkamol went to the Border Patrol Police (BPP) headquarters yesterday morning with lawyer Surin Sukkeua. The five worked under the 42nd BPP unit in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Police say their alleged victim, Juthaporn Noonrod, was two-months pregnant when the alleged offences took place in Bangkok's Petchkasem area. At Petchkasem police station the five accused responded to the the charges, insisting they were innocent, had been following orders and would present evidence in court to clear themselves.

Defence lawyer Surin said the accused officers reported first to BPP headquarters, as that was their original post, rather than Petchkasem police station. He said the men's families had been ordered out of their police flats since arrest warrants were issued this month, leaving their wives without homes and their children out of school.

Surin said the 42nd BPP unit superintendent Colonel Somkiat Neuthong and his deputy Lt-Col Kamol Sukprasert signed the orders to move the officers' families from the police flats.

Bumrung said that he also knew Capt Nat Chonnitiwanich, who led the accused team, as a hard working and able officer, mostly involved in drugs cases.

He believed that Pol Sgt-Maj Jaroon Kaewkul, who had turned himself in and later shot himself dead, committed suicide over the stress from these allegations.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry team to help victims of the rogue border police started work this week at Surat Thani prison, where 99 of them are being held.

Corrections Department deputy head Colonel Phokha-paibul Potranant said most plaintiffs claimed they had been kidnapped by the team, taken to a safe house, tortured to implicate people they knew and faced bogus drug charges.

He said if the plaintiffs were later found to have filed wrong complaints, they would be held responsible for their claims.

Source: The Nation - 19 February 2008

[sonnyJ]

Not guilty!

Well yes I did these things under orders... of the superior, who is not even arrested and probably never will. Can he pay my bail now?

Not guilty? Straight to gallows I say. And I don't even believe in the death penalty.

Maybe a public hanging at the police station would set some kind of an example.