City Council Officer Secretly Filmed Collecting Money

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: May 30th 2008

City Council Officer Secretly Filmed Collecting Money

Following a number of complaints from food vendors and street stall operators in the central Pattaya area, on Thursday night our journalists secretly filmed a City Council officer allegedly trying to collect protection money from local business operators.

After filming the officer in action around the market area of Central Pattaya road, journalists then interviewed some of the vendors. All complained they were being asked to hand over between 300 and 400 baht and told if they didn’t they would not be allowed to continue making a living on the streets.

This story has been covered by all the major Thai TV news channels and will no doubt result in some red faces among officers of City Hall.

[Briggsy]

The journalists must have been recruited to do this filming and reporting by somebody with a lot of influence. Otherwise they would never seek to challenge council officers who may well be the feared and despised "thessakij".

[Rimmer]

Does this mean that Investigative journalism comes to Pattaya at long last

[Humphrey Bear]

Does this mean that Investigative journalism comes to Pattaya at long last

No - it just means the guy was not paying off the new Mayor

[Humphrey Bear]

Does this mean that Investigative journalism comes to Pattaya at long last

No - it just means the guy was not paying off the new Mayor

[DonTron]

All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.

All it takes for good to prevail is Pattaya One!

Deep respect to Pattaya One!!!

Thats the kind of journalism we want.

[boiledegg]

How about fliming the police who openly take money of the beggars, flower sellers and similar people on Walking Street, not much investigating would need doing in this instance as the police are quite open about it.

[kurgen]

How about fliming the police who openly take money of the beggars, flower sellers and similar people on Walking Street, not much investigating would need doing in this instance as the police are quite open about it.

and the ones who sit in go-go bars watching nud_e shows waiting for their envelopes, etc, etc, etc....

[Kerryd]

How about fliming the police who openly take money of the beggars, flower sellers and similar people on Walking Street, not much investigating would need doing in this instance as the police are quite open about it.

and the ones who sit in go-go bars watching nud_e shows waiting for their envelopes, etc, etc, etc....

I walked into one club a couple of years ago and almost did a double take, as I saw 4 BiBs sitting at a table, having a drink, watching the girls dance (most were topless).

Talked to the owner later and sure enough, this was just one of the (4-5) groups he had to pay off each month to avoid any hassles. Sounded like it was just a part of the cost of doing business in Pattaya.

Of course you could protest it. Probably end up getting raided (frequently, kinda like Lucifers used to get raided frequently for awhile). Possibly get one of those 30 day (or more) shut downs. Lose a lot of revenue in the process and be no further ahead. Or just pay the price and hope it doesn't keep rising dramatically (and hope that some of their "friends" don't decide to join the fun, increasing the number of pay offs per month).

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: May 31st 2008 **** UPDATE ****

City Hall Official Interviews Disgruntled Vendors

Yesterday we brought you a story about complaints from food vendors and street stall operators in the central Pattaya area who claimed they were being bribed to hand over money to a City Council officer. After the pictures went to air a senior official from City Hall was sent to talk with some of the vendors on Friday night.

The vendors told the City Hall official they were being asked to hand over between 300 and 400 baht and there was a small group of men operating as stand-over merchants. Some claimed to be council officers but others the vendors are sure are just criminals on the take. One of the stand-over men, aged 46, was clearly unfazed by the complaints of the vendors and willingly stood around arguing with them and the City Hall officer.

Police arrived at the scene and asked the 46-year-old to accompany them to the station. He complied but apart from having his personal details recorded no further action was taken.

[kurgen]

One of the stand-over men, aged 46, was clearly unfazed by the complaints of the vendors and willingly stood around arguing with them and the City Hall officer.

Police arrived at the scene and asked the 46-year-old to accompany them to the station. He complied but apart from having his personal details recorded no further action was taken

cos he throws money upstairs to his employers, shock, horror, blah blah blah Pattaya <deleted>

In truth I dare say there's not many businesses that don't pay backhanders to at least 1 set of 'officials' in Deadwood