Bangkok Traffic Volunteer Charged With Assault

[webfact]

Man charged with assault

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have filed charges against a traffic volunteer who was caught in an Internet video clip kicking another person's motorbike after it failed to stop at a checkpoint in Bangkok's Bang Kho Laem district, injuring the driver.

Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pol Maj-General Worasak Noppasitthiporn said volunteer Mad-ali Himman-ngan, 35, who reportedly admitted to the act, faced an assault charge at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court.

Worasak also instructed all traffic police to follow policy by facilitating traffic flow, arresting law-breaking motorists, removing checkpoints that block traffic, and prohibit police at checkpoints from taking bribes, or they and their supervisors would face disciplinary and criminal punishment.

-- The Nation 2012-07-27

[colinneil]

Prohibit police at check points from taking bribes dream on that man is on another planet if he thinks that will stop!!!!!

[Reasonableman]

"Mad-ali"? Is that for real?

[kotsak]

Here is the video.. Action starts pass the 0:25 mark..

Edited July 27, 2012 by kotsak

[Payboy]

Exploitation of the underprivileged.

[jaltsc]

Prohibit police at check points from taking bribes dream on that man is on another planet if he thinks that will stop!!!!!

Yes, prohibit them from taking bribes. That does not mean they are prohibited from accepting offerings of gratitude from a thankful public .

[kawaiimomo]

I really can't understand how the driver keeps so calmed. I certainly wouldn't be calmed if this happened to me.

[Woodcaulk]

Mad-ali Himman-ngan

Another of the "peaceful" followers of Big Mo

[robblok]

Mad-ali Himman-ngan

Another of the "peaceful" followers of Big Mo

Yes because Buddists or Christians would never do such a thing.

[Payboy]

I really can't understand how the driver keeps so calmed. I certainly wouldn't be calmed if this happened to me.

It's because of the presence of BIB.

[robblok]

I really can't understand how the driver keeps so calmed. I certainly wouldn't be calmed if this happened to me.

It's because of the presence of BIB.

True.. they know they cant prove a thing and its not smart to go against the police. If they knew they had proof on film it might have been different. Good to see some action is being taken.

[Thai at Heart]

Since he was volunteering at a police checkpoint, aren't the police themselves in some way responsible for making sure he conducts himself appropriately?

[buhi]

Since he was volunteering at a police checkpoint, aren't the police themselves in some way responsible for making sure he conducts himself appropriately?

I have witnessed a uniformed police man employ this tactic, I believe it to be quite common.

[chinook]

Standard procedure for years, the kids know that if they try and run, there's a strong chance of being kicked off the bike. It's better than shooting or getting into dangerous high speed chases.....Thais are tougher than you might think, they grow up riding and falling off Hondas.

[chinook]

Now the problem is how are they supposed to stop the critters if they're going to be prosecuted for a kick stop........who is the freakin do gooder driving around with a video cam rolling in his windshield anyway?

[sysardman]

Here is the video.. Action starts pass the 0:25 mark..

Why is the link not showing??? (for me anyway)

[chrisinth]

Am I reading this wrong or what? If it was a police checkpoint, then it is there for a reason. If it is acceptable to let people pass through the checkpoint if that is their want, without being checked then what is the point of having it there in the first place?

I see no problem with what the volunteer did in this instance; he was preventing someone crashing the checkpoint. It is better being kicked off a bike than ending up with half a dozen rounds in your back!

What if, and this is pure speculation, the rider or passenger were carrying weapons or drugs? The same volunteer would be treated as an outstanding officer instead of being in the position now of facing disciplinary action for doing his job because of public opinion.

Just sayin' Look at the picture from both sides.....................

[robblok]

Now the problem is how are they supposed to stop the critters if they're going to be prosecuted for a kick stop........who is the freakin do gooder driving around with a video cam rolling in his windshield anyway?

They should just go after motorist in cars that drink and drive, much better for safety. A few kids with no helmets.. pfff

[Thai at Heart]

Now the problem is how are they supposed to stop the critters if they're going to be prosecuted for a kick stop........who is the freakin do gooder driving around with a video cam rolling in his windshield anyway?

Well, it would be a start if the coppers only stopped people actually doing something wrong. If I have seen dozens of people with no lights, no helmets, no insurance rounded up, they also have an extremely annoying habit of grabbing everyone irrespective, just for a little donation of course.

[chrisinth]

Now the problem is how are they supposed to stop the critters if they're going to be prosecuted for a kick stop........who is the freakin do gooder driving around with a video cam rolling in his windshield anyway?

Cheers Chinook. At least someone is looking at it from the other side. Still don't think the guy did wrong, he was just doing his job.

[robblok]

Am I reading this wrong or what? If it was a police checkpoint, then it is there for a reason. If it is acceptable to let people pass through the checkpoint if that is their want, without being checked then what is the point of having it there in the first place?

I see no problem with what the volunteer did in this instance; he was preventing someone crashing the checkpoint. It is better being kicked off a bike than ending up with half a dozen rounds in your back!

What if, and this is pure speculation, the rider or passenger were carrying weapons or drugs? The same volunteer would be treated as an outstanding officer instead of being in the position now of facing disciplinary action for doing his job because of public opinion.

Just sayin' Look at the picture from both sides.....................

How about they set up a good roadblock.. marked and such and make sure it cant be passed. Do it a legal way. Check cars too when they are at it. Not go for motorcycles only like they almost always do because they have no status or protection.

[BirdsandBooze]

Punish him heavily.

[sdoc]

What a prick ya give someone a whistle or a flashlight in this country and they think there above the law i know nothing serious will happen to this mug maybe they will take his whistle away deserves a smack

[chrisinth]

Am I reading this wrong or what? If it was a police checkpoint, then it is there for a reason. If it is acceptable to let people pass through the checkpoint if that is their want, without being checked then what is the point of having it there in the first place?

I see no problem with what the volunteer did in this instance; he was preventing someone crashing the checkpoint. It is better being kicked off a bike than ending up with half a dozen rounds in your back!

What if, and this is pure speculation, the rider or passenger were carrying weapons or drugs? The same volunteer would be treated as an outstanding officer instead of being in the position now of facing disciplinary action for doing his job because of public opinion.

Just sayin' Look at the picture from both sides.....................

How about they set up a good roadblock.. marked and such and make sure it cant be passed. Do it a legal way. Check cars too when they are at it. Not go for motorcycles only like they almost always do because they have no status or protection.

Agree robblok, there is that; I nearly didn't comment earlier because it does give people the excuse to crash the one in the video because it isn't properly defined and the motorcyclist has the excuse that he didn't see it for what it was.

Also agree with the car checks as well, including foreigners; if you are going to do it, do it properly! Funny, I have noticed over the last couple of years that the police here (Phitsanulok) have been doing just that. It seems that the "fear" of seeing a white face when the window has been wound down has diminished.

But, back to the OP; I still don't think the police guy was in the wrong in that he was preventing someone crashing the VCP.

[Nisa]

The guy who kicked the bike over should be given a medal along with anyone who does this to the motorbike drivers that ride on sidewalks.

[Thai at Heart]

But is the issue that he kicked someone off their bike, or that he did it whilst not being a policeman?

Surely, the police have the right to prevent you leaving a checkpoint? In which case, as a volunteer, he is entitled to act like a copper would in the same circumstances?

[Reasonableman]

The guy who kicked the bike over should be given a medal along with anyone who does this to the motorbike drivers that ride on sidewalks.

Were they driving on the footpath?

[Ferangled]

Am I reading this wrong or what? If it was a police checkpoint, then it is there for a reason. If it is acceptable to let people pass through the checkpoint if that is their want, without being checked then what is the point of having it there in the first place?

I see no problem with what the volunteer did in this instance; he was preventing someone crashing the checkpoint. It is better being kicked off a bike than ending up with half a dozen rounds in your back!

What if, and this is pure speculation, the rider or passenger were carrying weapons or drugs? The same volunteer would be treated as an outstanding officer instead of being in the position now of facing disciplinary action for doing his job because of public opinion.

Just sayin' Look at the picture from both sides.....................

How about they set up a good roadblock.. marked and such and make sure it cant be passed. Do it a legal way. Check cars too when they are at it. Not go for motorcycles only like they almost always do because they have no status or protection.

Here's the real crux of the issue - it's always motorbikes that are picked on at these checkpoints...why? Easy shakedown. I drive through 2x police checkpoints daily and have never, and I mean never in 6 years, been stopped. The police see a big farang in a big truck and they don't want the hassle.

Their absolute favourite seems to be young thai men with girls on the back of the bikes. I have even seen a young man with two girls on his bike stopped, traffic held up and then the two girls bundled into the police pickup while the young man is left to go on his way, devoid of his female company.

I'm sure they were simply taken back to the station for questioning and the lecherous behaviour of the policeman responsible was purely coincidental...

[Ferangled]

The guy who kicked the bike over should be given a medal along with anyone who does this to the motorbike drivers that ride on sidewalks.

Yes, unprovoked attacks of minors should be applauded...

Having a bad day Nisa?

[Nisa]

The guy who kicked the bike over should be given a medal along with anyone who does this to the motorbike drivers that ride on sidewalks.

Were they driving on the footpath?

Did I say they were? This guy was fleeing police.

Edited July 27, 2012 by Nisa