Thai Official Faces Action Over Suvarnabhumi Airport Assault

[Willeyeam]

If the guy was so important - why didn't they simply whisk him through the VIP channel or have him escorted by police or something? I agree with a few posters here that he didn't really give the guy a good slapping so to speak - but I also agree with many that he should have been arrested on the spot - Arrogant PRICK!

Also, why isn't "Airport Superintendant" being hauled up at the same time in response to his own peoples lack of any arrest or action against this scum? Surely his people failed as much as anyone?

Edited January 12, 2012 by Willeyeam

[Heng]

In this case, his punishment is basically public embarrassment, both short and long term, which is about as serious as it gets for folks who are somewhat above it all, think they higher up when than they really are, but in reality have a place in a specific place in the hierarchy just like anyone else. In this case, someone 'better' than him is teaching him a lesson. In this case this is likely someone at Asia Security, which should read: Loxley.... which should read: Kasikorn Bank.

Yeah, it doesn't seem fair, but if you were in his shoes, you'd feel like this was a life sentence (as it is, these things follow you forever).

[scorecard]

Accused slapper yet to appear

SAMUT PRAKAN - The senior customs official, who slapped a Suvarnabhumi Airport security officer in the ear for having asked him to undergo a security check - an incident widely shown on YouTube - has not yet responded to a police summons.

Suvarnabhumi Airport police station superintendent Pol Col Natthanan Nanasombat said Thursday the senior official Sombat Chatchaiwaiwit had been given a week, before January 18, to contact police or an arrest warrant would be issued. The police investigator also requested the victim's physical examination results from hospital to use in the case investigation and has interviewed witnesses. Police are also investigating who released the video clip of the incident on to the Internet.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

I think this got cut short should have finished -' and caused us to actually do work that we are paid for'.

Come on. he's busy this week visiting his relatives graves in Chonburi, he'll report when the family jaunt is finished.

[Old Man River]

Great!!!

Justice at least for now and i hope the Higher authority will prove to the world they mean business !!!

I appuad his superior for taking action as law applies to everyone and not just the ordinary folks or foreigner.

Let wait and see what action is taken from here

Serve him right, at 55yr old still doesn't know how to behave and lead by example !!!

My info is that the action has been taken. Compensation has been paid. This is a step in the right direction as in years passed there wouldn't have been any compensation, just threats. Now, with the internet officials can't hide. They have to pay up.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Old Man River

[TheWalkingMan]

Police are also investigating who released the video clip of the incident on to the Internet.

If/when caught, this is the person who will suffer the most.

[jayboy]

My info is that the action has been taken. Compensation has been paid. This is a step in the right direction as in years passed there wouldn't have been any compensation, just threats. Now, with the internet officials can't hide. They have to pay up.

The report that the police are investigating who uploaded the video suggests you are wrong.Officials will continue to behave appallingly and it was only serendipity and I guess one brave whistleblower that resulted in this incident being reported at all.This official is clearly a psycho but the behaviour pattern - thankfully less gross normally - is in my experience very typical of upper middle class Thais who feel their dignity is being challenged.The true aristocrats in my experience tend to be beautifully mannered treating ordinary Thais with friendliness and compassion.

[FriedMyLittleBrain]

Hope that it is really for smth useful & not just revenge or conflict of interests

[HereIAm]

I just watched the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN0an4lZ9bk

- you can clearly see that another 'official" came through first and had no intention of stopping for security and retrieved his bag and cell phone first. Then the mentioned "official" came through and was hostile about being checked, "bullied" the courteous security employee , and then berated him and another woman about "just who is was" waving his badge and ranting, strutting his arms. Disgraceful breach of security at Suvarnibhumi, the Thailand international airport.

the first man clearly didnt set off the detector, therefore he is free to collect his hand luggage and move on without further checks.

have you ever been in an airport ?

Whether the first man set off a detector or not, it is quite clear from the video that the security official Sirichai made a move to run his scanner on the official and was thwarted by the latter. It was a sorry sight to see the embarassment on Sirichai's face. Then comes the second and bigger fart who straightaway takes a swipe at Sirichai. Take note that Sirichai was all along being courteous like all Thai security officials are at the airport to all travellers.

[Old Man River]

My info is that the action has been taken. Compensation has been paid. This is a step in the right direction as in years passed there wouldn't have been any compensation, just threats. Now, with the internet officials can't hide. They have to pay up.

The report that the police are investigating who uploaded the video suggests you are wrong.Officials will continue to behave appallingly and it was only serendipity and I guess one brave whistleblower that resulted in this incident being reported at all.This official is clearly a psycho but the behaviour pattern - thankfully less gross normally - is in my experience very typical of upper middle class Thais who feel their dignity is being challenged.The true aristocrats in my experience tend to be beautifully mannered treating ordinary Thais with friendliness and compassion.

Jayboy, as usual we will agree to disagree. In this case it is being settled out of court so to speak and the internet (regardless of who leaks it) is making officials think twice about their actions. Think about it. Ten years ago we never would have seen this and now people all over the world are looking at it.

[MikeOboe57]

There's more to it. This arrogant ... [fill in suitable expletive] has apparently managed to breach the security at BKK numerous times before with his arrogant attitude. That explains his outrage when a brave security officer tried to prevent him from doing the same again.

All airlines operating into and out of BKK should wonder how many "VIP" have in the past managed to get on board their airplanes at Swampy without being properly screened.

[WarpSpeed]

This is a good video to use as an airport security training video for two reasons 1. What to do in this situation and how to handle the official. and 2. This official will lose face every time the video is played.

I think they fell short of how to handle him though as soon as he put his hands on the agent he should have been face down with his hands behind his back munching nasty shoe goo..

Edited January 12, 2012 by WarpSpeed

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

The incident points out the "abuse of power" that thrives in Thailand. Notwithstanding it happens everywhere. The Thai official doing the slapping should have been confronted immediately by armed security officers trained to deal with airport security on the spot, arrested, cuffed and vested, and vanned off to a debrief and formal charge session. You can bet that if a non Thai had done anything similar they would be sitting in a security prison compound or airport detention room awaiting disposition to a regular prison while awaiting trial for any number of charges. The yellow shirt closing of Suvarnibhumi should have signaled Thailand's failure to protect its own airport and provide international level of security. Can you imagine this slapping of a security official happening at Heathrow, JFK, Changi, Narita, O'Hare or any other international airport of any scale without an appropriate arrest, detention, and charges?

If he did this at JFK or in DC at Dulles, he would have been beaten down, stomped, cuffed, slammed against a wall. taken to central booking, stripped down naked, thrown in a cell and left to rot for three days...POS...

[Farangdam]

Old school vs new school : no CCTV era vs centralised well equip CCTV lol..

[catmac]

My info is that the action has been taken. Compensation has been paid. This is a step in the right direction as in years passed there wouldn't have been any compensation, just threats. Now, with the internet officials can't hide. They have to pay up.

The report that the police are investigating who uploaded the video suggests you are wrong.Officials will continue to behave appallingly and it was only serendipity and I guess one brave whistleblower that resulted in this incident being reported at all.This official is clearly a psycho but the behaviour pattern - thankfully less gross normally - is in my experience very typical of upper middle class Thais who feel their dignity is being challenged.The true aristocrats in my experience tend to be beautifully mannered treating ordinary Thais with friendliness and compassion.

Jayboy, as usual we will agree to disagree. In this case it is being settled out of court so to speak and the internet (regardless of who leaks it) is making officials think twice about their actions. Think about it. Ten years ago we never would have seen this and now people all over the world are looking at it.

With respect, OMR, I think you have missed the main jist of Jayboys post. As you rightly pointed out "Ten years ago we never would have seen this and now people all over the world are looking at it".

Jayboy led with the fear that with the police now hunting down the whistleblower, and we can guess who ordered that, the elite are determined to make sure that they won't be exposed to this kind of public ridicule again.

[sawadeeken]

I think the 'customs official' involved needs to learn that he is not above the law, hopefully this will give him a clue. Hope he is not only transfered but 'demoted' also. Doubtful, I know - once their rank is bought and paid for - they own it.

As for the security guard, I wish for him a record setting promotion - record setting because he 'deserves it and earned it', not like all the other promotions that are 'bought and paid for'...... That would be record setting, Might even make the 'Guiness World Book'

[FrankieDimes]

My first thought is that the Customs official was carrying contraband, why else would he refuse to be checked and over react by assaulting a security official. The alarm alerted when the Customs official went through. He refuse to be checked by security officials and he did not remove whatever alerted and go back through the check point. If I was the security official or security guard on duty at the time the Customs official would not have continued on his journey. The assault was a form of intimidation to bypass security it would not have worked with me, even if it meant me losing my job. The guy would have been searched regardless of how he felt. People who are easily intimidated should not be allowed to hold certain positions. A training program needs to be developed to teach airport security how to handle these situations. Had the customs official been carrying an explosive device and detonated it on the airplane, what could the Thai government say. After all, the airport securtiy system alerted as he went through the check point, but a human failed at his duty to find out what alerted.

[FrankieDimes]

If the guy was so important - why didn't they simply whisk him through the VIP channel or have him escorted by police or something? I agree with a few posters here that he didn't really give the guy a good slapping so to speak - but I also agree with many that he should have been arrested on the spot - Arrogant PRICK!

Also, why isn't "Airport Superintendant" being hauled up at the same time in response to his own peoples lack of any arrest or action against this scum? Surely his people failed as much as anyone?

I agree. I don't think the security officer should get this job back after he recovers from his ear injury. He obviously failed to do his very important job. Why would you allow anyone to board an airplane after the alarms alerted and the individual refused to be checked properly. Move the security officer to baggage handling or something, but he obviously don't have the balls to be a security officer at an airport check point.

[gl555]

If the guy was so important - why didn't they simply whisk him through the VIP channel or have him escorted by police or something? I agree with a few posters here that he didn't really give the guy a good slapping so to speak - but I also agree with many that he should have been arrested on the spot - Arrogant PRICK!

Also, why isn't "Airport Superintendant" being hauled up at the same time in response to his own peoples lack of any arrest or action against this scum? Surely his people failed as much as anyone?

I agree. I don't think the security officer should get this job back after he recovers from his ear injury. He obviously failed to do his very important job. Why would you allow anyone to board an airplane after the alarms alerted and the individual refused to be checked properly. Move the security officer to baggage handling or something, but he obviously don't have the balls to be a security officer at an airport check point.

No offense but you don't seem to understand how Thailand works. I doubt ANY security officer, unless he was pretty senior would have done things any differently. Sad but this is how things work in this country. Lucky this is the 21st century though and with Youtube and cameras everywhere, it's getting harder to get away with pulling crap like this. Whatever the case, the security officer did his job with courtesy and was proffesional. Unfortunately, it was his bad luck to meet this asshol_e while on shift.

[sirchai]

Is he a school teacher not far away from god? I mean let's face it: There's god and then the Thai teachers with their attitude used to hit kids...

Edited January 13, 2012 by sirchai

[sirchai]

If the guy was so important - why didn't they simply whisk him through the VIP channel or have him escorted by police or something? I agree with a few posters here that he didn't really give the guy a good slapping so to speak - but I also agree with many that he should have been arrested on the spot - Arrogant PRICK!

Also, why isn't "Airport Superintendant" being hauled up at the same time in response to his own peoples lack of any arrest or action against this scum? Surely his people failed as much as anyone?

I agree. I don't think the security officer should get this job back after he recovers from his ear injury. He obviously failed to do his very important job. Why would you allow anyone to board an airplane after the alarms alerted and the individual refused to be checked properly. Move the security officer to baggage handling or something, but he obviously don't have the balls to be a security officer at an airport check point.

No offense but you don't seem to understand how Thailand works. I doubt ANY security officer, unless he was pretty senior would have done things any differently. Sad but this is how things work in this country. Lucky this is the 21st century though and with Youtube and cameras everywhere, it's getting harder to get away with pulling crap like this. Whatever the case, the security officer did his job with courtesy and was proffesional. Unfortunately, it was his bad luck to meet this asshol_e while on shift.

"No offense but you don't seem to understand how Thailand works."

Edited January 13, 2012 by sirchai

[chooka]

Inapropriate behaviour but assault? I don't see anybody throwing punches there.

And anyway, according to my first-hand knowledge on this issue, anybody can assault anybody they don't like in Thailand without any legal consequence. At most 1,000 THB fine is charged at the police station where assault is called "boxing' and considered fundamental human right.

You do not have to punch someone to assault them, you don't even have to touch them to constitute an unlawful assault. (well in Aust anyway)

[Bagwan]

Accused slapper yet to appear

SAMUT PRAKAN - The senior customs official, who slapped a Suvarnabhumi Airport security officer in the ear for having asked him to undergo a security check - an incident widely shown on YouTube - has not yet responded to a police summons.

Suvarnabhumi Airport police station superintendent Pol Col Natthanan Nanasombat said Thursday the senior official Sombat Chatchaiwaiwit had been given a week, before January 18, to contact police or an arrest warrant would be issued. The police investigator also requested the victim's physical examination results from hospital to use in the case investigation and has interviewed witnesses. Police are also investigating who released the video clip of the incident on to the Internet.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

What a wonderful headline. Most know that there is no shortage of slappers in Thailand. Some even manage to get themselves married to farangs.

[catmac]

Accused slapper yet to appear

SAMUT PRAKAN - The senior customs official, who slapped a Suvarnabhumi Airport security officer in the ear for having asked him to undergo a security check - an incident widely shown on YouTube - has not yet responded to a police summons.

Suvarnabhumi Airport police station superintendent Pol Col Natthanan Nanasombat said Thursday the senior official Sombat Chatchaiwaiwit had been given a week, before January 18, to contact police or an arrest warrant would be issued. The police investigator also requested the victim's physical examination results from hospital to use in the case investigation and has interviewed witnesses. Police are also investigating who released the video clip of the incident on to the Internet.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

What a wonderful headline. Most know that there is no shortage of slappers in Thailand. Some even manage to get themselves married to farangs.

Good one, Bagwan......I wondered when someone would pick that one up!

[Bagwan]

The incident points out the "abuse of power" that thrives in Thailand. Notwithstanding it happens everywhere. The Thai official doing the slapping should have been confronted immediately by armed security officers trained to deal with airport security on the spot, arrested, cuffed and vested, and vanned off to a debrief and formal charge session. You can bet that if a non Thai had done anything similar they would be sitting in a security prison compound or airport detention room awaiting disposition to a regular prison while awaiting trial for any number of charges. The yellow shirt closing of Suvarnibhumi should have signaled Thailand's failure to protect its own airport and provide international level of security. Can you imagine this slapping of a security official happening at Heathrow, JFK, Changi, Narita, O'Hare or any other international airport of any scale without an appropriate arrest, detention, and charges?

If he did this at JFK or in DC at Dulles, he would have been beaten down, stomped, cuffed, slammed against a wall. taken to central booking, stripped down naked, thrown in a cell and left to rot for three days...POS...

You omitted being urinated on.

This is a terrible indictment. I'm undecided whether it is of your mental state by stating this to be a fact or if the allegation is true, that US Immigration officers act out Gestapo fantasies.

I have found that on my visits to the US that Immigration officials are to say the least dour and often impolite.

The late and great humourist Willie Rushton supplied the following information on a questionnaire he was asked to complete. The question was 'During your visit to the US do you intend to commit any act designed to overthrow the US Government'? He wrote 'Sole intention of visit'. They held him for questioning for 4 hours. He related the story on BBC TV provoking much mirth.

[Payboy]

Next time he should just arrange his VIP departure at the same time when all the airport security scanners are "loaned out" for that rock concert at the neighbouring university.

http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?25595-Airport-fined-for-lack-of-metal-detector

[Old Man River]

My info is that the action has been taken. Compensation has been paid. This is a step in the right direction as in years passed there wouldn't have been any compensation, just threats. Now, with the internet officials can't hide. They have to pay up.

The report that the police are investigating who uploaded the video suggests you are wrong.Officials will continue to behave appallingly and it was only serendipity and I guess one brave whistleblower that resulted in this incident being reported at all.This official is clearly a psycho but the behaviour pattern - thankfully less gross normally - is in my experience very typical of upper middle class Thais who feel their dignity is being challenged.The true aristocrats in my experience tend to be beautifully mannered treating ordinary Thais with friendliness and compassion.

Jayboy, as usual we will agree to disagree. In this case it is being settled out of court so to speak and the internet (regardless of who leaks it) is making officials think twice about their actions. Think about it. Ten years ago we never would have seen this and now people all over the world are looking at it.

With respect, OMR, I think you have missed the main jist of Jayboys post. As you rightly pointed out "Ten years ago we never would have seen this and now people all over the world are looking at it".

Jayboy led with the fear that with the police now hunting down the whistleblower, and we can guess who ordered that, the elite are determined to make sure that they won't be exposed to this kind of public ridicule again.

I really didn't miss his point. I am just tired of the constant conversations of what class a person comes from. Elite vs. non elite, upper class vs. lower class etc. I have trouble even finding 10 people who will agree on what makes a person elite. You have an education, so maybe that makes you one of the elite as well. Hence, I ducked this part of his message.

My point is simply with many, many people having video capabilities on their cell phones and the ability to upload it within seconds, the proverbial "they" can't hunt down everyone. Little by little, officials are having to watch how they act, at least in public.

[overhaul38]

I hope the news follows up on the action taken in this case. It just might make other "HIGH OFFICIALS" think twice about using their position to abuse underlings.

[animatic]

'Old Man River' timestamp='1326370912' post='4974278'

My info is that the action has been taken. Compensation has been paid. This is a step in the right direction as in years passed there wouldn't have been any compensation, just threats. Now, with the internet officials can't hide. They have to pay up.

The report that the police are investigating who uploaded the video suggests you are wrong.Officials will continue to behave appallingly and it was only serendipity and I guess one brave whistleblower that resulted in this incident being reported at all.This official is clearly a psycho but the behaviour pattern - thankfully less gross normally - is in my experience very typical of upper middle class Thais who feel their dignity is being challenged.The true aristocrats in my experience tend to be beautifully mannered treating ordinary Thais with friendliness and compassion.

Jayboy, as usual we will agree to disagree. In this case it is being settled out of court so to speak and the internet (regardless of who leaks it) is making officials think twice about their actions. Think about it. Ten years ago we never would have seen this and now people all over the world are looking at it.

With respect, OMR, I think you have missed the main jist of Jayboys post. As you rightly pointed out "Ten years ago we never would have seen this and now people all over the world are looking at it".

Jayboy led with the fear that with the police now hunting down the whistleblower, and we can guess who ordered that, the elite are determined to make sure that they won't be exposed to this kind of public ridicule again.

I really didn't miss his point. I am just tired of the constant conversations of what class a person comes from. Elite vs. non elite, upper class vs. lower class etc. I have trouble even finding 10 people who will agree on what makes a person elite. You have an education, so maybe that makes you one of the elite as well. Hence, I ducked this part of his message.

My point is simply with many, many people having video capabilities on their cell phones and the ability to upload it within seconds, the proverbial "they" can't hunt down everyone. Little by little, officials are having to watch how they act, at least in public.

There are 67 million class wars going on in Thailand every single day that one Thai meets another.

[TAWP]

While the young man can be exused for not stopping the older man after the asssualt, it is shameful that his supervisor and co-workers failed in their duty.

They should all be reprimanded with dock of pay of one week.

[WarpSpeed]

Accused slapper yet to appear

SAMUT PRAKAN - The senior customs official, who slapped a Suvarnabhumi Airport security officer in the ear for having asked him to undergo a security check - an incident widely shown on YouTube - has not yet responded to a police summons.

Suvarnabhumi Airport police station superintendent Pol Col Natthanan Nanasombat said Thursday the senior official Sombat Chatchaiwaiwit had been given a week, before January 18, to contact police or an arrest warrant would be issued. The police investigator also requested the victim's physical examination results from hospital to use in the case investigation and has interviewed witnesses. Police are also investigating who released the video clip of the incident on to the Internet.

-- The Nation 2012-01-12

What a wonderful headline. Most know that there is no shortage of slappers in Thailand. Some even manage to get themselves married to farangs.

Good one, Bagwan......I wondered when someone would pick that one up!

Not fair!! I saw it but afraid to step over the line ........

Edited January 13, 2012 by WarpSpeed