Police Versus Army? Police Sargent Accused Of Murdering Army Corporal

[sriracha john]

Police Ensures Justice in Soldier Murder Case

The Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief guarantees that the case of the murder of an Army officer, involving a police sergeant, will be fairly investigated.

Late last night, about 100 soldiers of the Army Support Services Department gathered in front of the Prachachuen Police station. The team urged that the murder of 32-year-old Lance Corporal Chaiwut Prasomsri, from the army Support Services Department, be fairly examined.

Lance Corporal Chaiwut was shot dead in front of the military flat. The murderer is identified as Police Sergeant Prasart Jantima, who led the police team to seize illegal CD vending booths at a marketplace near the army flat.

Witnesses reveal that an argument broke out as Chaiwut and his colleague, Sergeant Major Wichit, attempted to stop the police team. Soldiers who doubt Prasart's authority in the operation said the police team failed to explain the reason for the check.

Prasart used his revolver to shoot Chaiwut.

Army Support Services Department Director, Lieutenant General Sommai Kaodeera, along with many high-ranking Army officers from the Army Headquarters, gathered at the Prachachuen Police Station, where the Lieutenant General urged that the group dissolve to prevent public misunderstanding about the case.

The Army Support Services Department Director met with Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief, Police Major General Juti Thammanowanich to discuss the case. Furthermore, the Army director himself participated in witness questioning.

After spending more than four hours questioning the witnesses, the Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief says Prasart has been charged with murder though he continues to deny the charge, saying his action took place while he was on duty.

The Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief says the case will be examined closely and fairly, to prevent misunderstanding between the police and soldier units. He adds that many witnesses are to clarify the details of the case.

- Thailand Outlook

[Heng]

As the saying goes, the police count cash, the army counts whisky bottles. IMO there is likely a 20 to 1 ratio of police general US$ multimilllionaires to army general US$ multimillionaires, along with the power that goes with it.

[LaoPo]

As the saying goes, the police count cash, the army counts whisky bottles. IMO there is likely a 20 to 1 ratio of police general US$ multimilllionaires to army general US$ multimillionaires, along with the power that goes with it.

Heng, in a situation as above, who has more power....the police or the army...? I mean, can the police tell the army, hi-so officers, to leave and go home ?

Also, isn't it odd that a high military officer joined and participated with the high police officer to question (the) witnesses ?

Hmmm...TIT

LaoPo

[Samuian]

.....he continues to deny the charge, saying his action took place while he was on duty.

hmmmm wasn't there a long time ago a son, a shooting, a pub and something similar.... who is interior minister now?

Some unofficial settlement will happen behind closed doors.... and it will be history!

Edited March 12, 2008 by Samuian

[Plus]

...he continues to deny the charge, saying his action took place while he was on duty.

As if killing people while on duty is perfectly normal.

The army can't do anything in this case, legally. They all have guns, though, you don't need to be a multimillionaire if you want revenge. A bunch of teenagers can give police a good whipping if they want to.

[Payboy]

to seize illegal CD vending booths

turf war between men in uniform....

[Heng]

As the saying goes, the police count cash, the army counts whisky bottles. IMO there is likely a 20 to 1 ratio of police general US$ multimilllionaires to army general US$ multimillionaires, along with the power that goes with it.

Heng, in a situation as above, who has more power....the police or the army...? I mean, can the police tell the army, hi-so officers, to leave and go home ?

Also, isn't it odd that a high military officer joined and participated with the high police officer to question (the) witnesses ?

LaoPo

You mean in front of the police station? In any particular situation, any group of thugs can mow down the other group with gun play... it doesn't mean they have more "power." The bloods and the crips have plenty of guns (like the army here) but it doesn't mean they have more power than the monied business interests (of which the police are just one component of here).

[Briggsy]

There have been plenty of show-downs between the police and the army, between different branches of the police, between different branches of the army. They might make the newspapers due to a death, perhaps but they are always resolved behind closed doors. The higher-ups see little benefit in airing their dirty linen in public since these disputes are always over a source of illcit income.

[sriracha john]

Deputy Supreme Commander Concern about Police Killing Soldier Case

The Deputy Supreme Commander expressed concern over the case of a soldier killed by a metropolitan police officer.

Deputy Supreme Commander General Montri Sangkasab says he's worried about the case of a soldier killed by a metropolitan police officer, as he says the case could possibly lead to conflict between the Army and the police.

The comment from the Deputy Supreme Commander came following the death of Lance Corporal Chaiwut Prasomsri from the Army Support Services Department, who was shot by Police Sergeant Prasart Jantima when the two had an argument at a market near the Army flat in Prachachuen on Tuesday night.

The Deputy Supreme Commander says he's worried by part of the report that calls the case murder, though it was an on-duty operation.

Montri says the Army is a closely affiliated unit as soldiers are trained together. However, he states that the tense atmosphere should improve following the discussion between Supreme Commander, General Boonsarng Niempradit and Acting National Police Chief, Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan.

He adds that the case will be investigated fairly. The Deputy Supreme Commander says a team of Army Judge Advocates has been sent to observe the interrogation and help will be allocated to the family of the deceased.

Meanwhile, the Corrections Department has locked up both police officers involved in the case in a high-security cell at the Bangkok Special Remand Prison as they are suspects in a key case. The department also ordered the removal of other prisoners who were former soldiers or relatives of the dead army officer to prevent any revenge. The department confirms both prisoners will not have special privileges.

- Thailand Outlook

Edited March 13, 2008 by sriracha john

[PadThaiGuy]

Both institutions are corrupt to the core.

[sriracha john]

Murder sparks military-police rift

Cop accused of killing soldier after argument

The murder of a soldier near military flats earlier this week has threatened to escalate into a major rift between the military and the police force. Chaiwuth Prasomsri was shot dead near a military apartment on Tuesday. Pol Sgt Prasart Chantima has been accused of the killing and detained at the Criminal Court on a murder charge. His colleague Pol Sgt Maj Porawit Jongpitakpong has been charged with attempted murder. According to Prasart's statement, the shooting took place after the victim asked him to show his police identification as he was arresting a trader selling pirated VCDs near the scene, prompting a heated argument between the two. The policeman said Chaiwuth brandished a pistol at him in an aggressive manner before walking away. He was later shot. At the same time, Porawit allegedly held Chaiwuth's friend Sgt Maj Wichit Uafuaklang at gunpoint and handcuffed him to prevent him from causing further trouble. However, Withoon Klongmeekhun, Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, said he had also considered different accounts given by Wichit and other eyewitnesses. Eyewitness accounts suggest that Prasart was the one who brandished his pistol, not Chaiwuth, as the policeman had claimed in his statement. Prasart allegedly came up and shot Chaiwuth after the military officer had walked away and was about to ride off on his bike. Wichit said Prasart prevented him from taking the wounded Chaiwuth to hospital. The court refused the accused bail citing the threat that they may try to tamper with or destroy evidence relating to the case. The two policemen were moved to the Bangkok Remand Prison.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Mar2008_news05.php

[Shah Jahan]

Amazing Thailand

Police officer shoots army officer in pay-off VCD turf war and police officer is sent to special prison and authorities ensure that justice will prevail

however when drunk police officer murders tourist

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=162215

how much you want to bet nothing with happen.

shows you where the values are in this country.

[Scott]

I would just as soon not get caught in the 'cross-fire' between the two groups.

Also, my condolences to the family of the victim for their loss.

[sriracha john]

Murder investigator held at gunpoint

A new row has flared between military officers and policemen. A military judge advocate who is looking into the murder of a soldier has lodged a complaint with police, accusing five police officers of attempted murder. The case comes after the killing of Chaiwuth Prasomsri, who was shot dead, allegedly by a police officer, last week. Suthon Sothorn, of the Judge Advocate-General Department, who is looking into the murder, says that Pol Lt-Col Suriyong Phochan and four other officers held him at gunpoint. Suthon said that on Tuesday, he was driving to his home after talking to fellow officers about the case. He said he parked his car near the Bang Phlat intersection to check documents related to the case. A pick-up truck pulled over in front of him. Three men left the vehicle. One pulled out a pistol and aimed it at him while he was seated in his car, he said. "When they realised I was in soldier's uniform, they apologised to me and said it was a misunderstanding," he said. Another man from the group told him that he was a policeman from the Bang Sri Muang police station. He showed his police identity card and gave his name, as Pol Lt-Col Suriyong Phochan. The policeman apologised, saying they were looking for a drug trafficker. Suthon said he demanded they go to the Bang Phlat police station so police there could record what happened. They refused and asked to go to Bang Sri Muang police station where they worked instead, Suthon said. He said he decided to file a complaint at Bang Phlat police station, accusing the five of attempted murder. Suriyong gave a different account. The police officer said

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/21Mar2008_news14.php

[Tony Clifton]

More scumbags in uniform, dime a dozen.

[sriracha john]

MURDER INVESTIGATION

Military give CSD video of shooting involving police

A video clip, allegedly showing the killing of a staff member of the Office of the Supreme Commander by a police officer, was handed to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) yesterday as evidence in the investigation. Maj Gen Surasit Taworn, the deputy chief of the Support Services Department, took the one-minute video clip and gave the names of witnesses to the CSD himself to make sure legal action would be ''taken in the correct manner.'' he said. The case, in which Private 1st Class Chaiwuth Prasomsri was shot in a brawl with two policemen from the Pracha Chuen police station, has grabbed the interest of Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niampradit. He asks about progress in the case every week, Maj Gen Surasit said. The video clip, which was handed to CSD Deputy Chief Somyos Promnim, shows what happened right after a pistol was fired. Ten photos taken at the crime scene were also given to the CSD. An army source said the clip shows Pvt 1st Class Chaiwuth calling for help after being shot near a military apartment in the Chatuchak area on March 11. A military officer who was at the scene said the wounded man was stopped from going to hospital by the alleged gunman, Pol Sgt Prasart Chantima. The shooting happened after Pol Sgt Prasart was asked by Pvt 1st Class Chaiwuth to show his police identification. Pol Sgt Prasart was trying to arrest a trader for selling pirated CDs and VCDs when a heated quarrel started. His colleague, Pol Sgt-Maj Porawit Jongpitakpong, has been charged with attempted murder. It has not been established if Pvt 1st Class Chaiwuth or Pol Sgt Prasart pulled out a pistol first. Witnesses produced by police and by the military accuse both men of being the first to pull out a gun. "We will ensure justice to both sides," Pol Col Somyos said after receiving the evidence.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/26Apr2008_news10.php

[geriatrickid]

Amazing Thailand

Police officer shoots army officer in pay-off VCD turf war and police officer is sent to special prison and authorities ensure that justice will prevail

however when drunk police officer murders tourist

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=162215

how much you want to bet nothing with happen.

shows you where the values are in this country.

You are making statements without any factual evidence.

How do you know that it was a pay-off VCD turf war? The policeman could very well have been trying to carry out his duty as a member of the unit charged with removing pirated merchandise and along comes some junior rank enlisted man that may have known or may not have known the vendor and starts arguing with the policeman. If anything, the incident shows that Thais are treated no differently than farangs when they get aggressive and lippy with cops - they get shot and often die.

Sending the accused to a "special prison" is no different than in the west where police officers accused of crimes are held in special detention areas. These prisoners have a tendancy to get killed when placed in the general population.

How can you say nothing will happen? Don't you think there is alot of pressure being brought to bear on this guy already? He's probably living in fear of his life and most likely job. As for calling the cop in the Pai incident drunk, there is no legal or serological basis upon which to make that claim. You assume he was drunk despite not being there and the accused in that case not having a blood alcohol measurement. Maybe that cop was drunk, but I am one of those that believes one is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If we could go around convicting on the basis of presumed guilt then a large part of the Pattaya farang population would be locked up for being sexual deviants according to some TV members.

[Thai at Heart]

There have been plenty of show-downs between the police and the army, between different branches of the police, between different branches of the army. They might make the newspapers due to a death, perhaps but they are always resolved behind closed doors. The higher-ups see little benefit in airing their dirty linen in public since these disputes are always over a source of illcit income.

Well if you can call staging coups as and when they see fit airing their grievances in private.

This event may be a very prescient moment as the police start to unravel the various money making schemes that soldiers have set up during the coup, and does not bode well for the short term.