Immigration Police Under Fire By Thaksin

[george]

Immigration police under fire by PM

Chief's job could be hanging in balance

BANGKOK: -- The fate of the immigration police chief could be hanging in the balance following Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's criticisms of the agency.

Mr Thaksin's dressing down came during yesterday's meeting of the Police Commission in which he reportedly said the Immigration Police Bureau was plagued with problems and needed to shape up.

The prime minister reportedly told national police chief Gen Kowit Wattana to closely supervise the Immigration Police Bureau and bring in honest officers.

Mr Thaksin, however, did not say anything about replacing the immigration police commissioner, Pol Lt-Gen Amarin Nieamsakul, whom he handpicked for the job last year.

Pol Gen Kowit admitted he was told to find out how to improve the bureau, but said there would be no change to the commissioner's post as part of any changes which resulted from his intervention.

He said the proposed transfer of the bureau to the Justice Ministry was not discussed at the meeting.

The Police Commission yesterday approved the proposed police restructuring which would see deputy national police chief posts cut from six to four and assistant police chief posts reduced from 14 to eight.

Pol Gen Kowit said police deputy commissioner posts would also be slashed after which there would be a surplus of 35 deputies.

He said no new appointments would be made to replace these 35 deputies if any resigned.

The job cuts were in line with Mr Thaksin's policy, said Pol Gen Kowit.

The new structure would take effect on Oct 1 this year.

``This is to increase efficiency in administration and management. The new structure is similar to that of the old Police Department,'' he said.

In another development, the Metropolitan Police Bureau has reported that about 70 people were arrested and assets worth more than 100 million baht were seized in a crackdown on mafia gangs preying on street vendors.

Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Pansiri Prawapat said four suspects assets had been seized and they were also charged with money laundering.

Meanwhile, police inspector-general Pol Gen Seripisuth Temiyavej, who chairs the anti-roadside mafia panel, yesterday paid a visit to vendors at Bo Be market.

He was greeted with complaints from a group of vendors who claimed that mafia figures had demanded they each pay them 5,000 baht.

Pol Gen Seripisuth promised to tell the local police to look into the matter and urged the vendors to lodge their complaints in the government complaint box if they felt unsafe.

On Thursday, he met vendors at Klong Toey Market who told him they had to pay 1,200 baht a month for each stall to the district office as well as 70 baht a day to a suspected extortionist identified as Juthamanee Phupirom, or Jeh Manee.

Pol Gen Seripisuth said he ordered Thong Lo police to look for her and to issue a warrant for her arrest on extortion charges by the end of this week.

--Bangkok Post 2005-05-14

[camerata]

I suppose it's no coincidence that this happens right after "Mad Dog" Chuwit accuses the Immigration Dept of corruption.

[Ajarn]

Hmmm..I guess that complaint box works

[Rhys]

Simply Whistles and belles.. are you kidding this is one of the major boons for the TRT agenda.. "Judgment is comming"

[mnoorsapl]

Immigration police under fire by PM

Chief's job could be hanging in balance

The prime minister reportedly told national police chief Gen Kowit Wattana to closely supervise the Immigration Police Bureau and bring in honest officers.

--Bangkok Post 2005-05-14

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How? by declaring their assets, their spouses assets and bank accounts?

Immigration police under fire by PM

Chief's job could be hanging in balance

In another development, the Metropolitan Police Bureau has reported that about 70 people were arrested and assets worth more than 100 million baht were seized in a crackdown on mafia gangs preying on street vendors.

--Bangkok Post 2005-05-14

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ever consider that the street vendors are hiring these gang to protect their business