Corrupt Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison Guards Behind Murder: Chief

[webfact]

Corrupt prison guards behind murder: chief

The Nation

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- Corrupt prison guards and drug-dealing inmates at the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison were behind the recent murder of a guard who blew the whistle on their activities, provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Ronnaphong Saikaew said yesterday.

Meanwhile, police and prison guards in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Phra Phrome district blocked a shipment of soy milk cartons carrying amphetamine tablets yesterday after being tipped off by employees of a well-known soy milk company. The driver of the truck tried to flee but had to stop after a pursuit. Four occupants, including the driver, were arrested. About 200 tablets were found hidden among 6,000 cartons contained in 30 boxes. Police officers believe that corrupt prison guards had possibly suggested this method because throwing contraband items over the prison wall had become far too risky.

Citing investigation results, the officer said Od sae Phua had detected drug-dealing activities inside the prison on July 30 and had reported to his superiors on August 17 because other prison officials kept pleading with him to keep quiet or come to an agreement. He also reportedly refused to accept a Bt200,000 bribe for turning a blind eye to the smuggling.

"Od might have wavered a bit during this 17-day period but decided to report about it on August 17, and was shot dead the very next day," Ronnaphong said.

Meanwhile, some 10 or 20 inmates convicted in drug-trafficking cases will be moved from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison to the isolated Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi to block them from having access to drug traffickers, Sophon Thitithampruek, deputy director-general of the Corrections Department, said yesterday.

Sophon also said that his department would seek donations to raise funds for Od sae Phua's family.

He added that his department would continue to seek help from border patrol police to guard the walls of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison so nobody is able to throw drugs and mobile phones into the compound.

Meanwhile, Phitsanulok prison chief Somjit Satsanyawut said he would step up measures to free his facility of drug problems.

As part of this measure, relatives will not be allowed to bring in any food for the inmates because the prison already spends about Bt80,000 to Bt100,000 daily on feeding the prisoners, he said.

Somjit said the prison would also start screening the inmates and moving those with a good record to a safer "white zone". He added that he hoped the entire prison would become a white zone soon.

In another development, Kamphaeng Phet police yesterday arrested former drug convict Thongchai Kongprachak, 52, after he was released from Samut Sakhon Prison last week. He was arrested in relation to the murder of a Kamphaeng Phet tambon leader in 2005 and a village headman in 2006.

-- The Nation 2012-08-21

[JeremyBowskill]

Difficult to see the good guys from the bad here apart from the guy killed of course, dam_n shame.

[TomTao]

I don't envy the police with the task of sorting the good from the bad and finding those behind the killing of the incorruptable prison officer. Trying to sort wood from trees when all you can see is sticks.

[Markaew]

They can't sort out the good from the bad because they are all the same. You can decide if they are good or bad.

[chooka]

I don't envy the police with the task of sorting the good from the bad and finding those behind the killing of the incorruptable prison officer. Trying to sort wood from trees when all you can see is sticks.

Before they can do that the Police have to sort out the good from the bad within thier own ranks and the problem is when they do that, the good will probably no longer exist leaving own the bad to weed out any other potential whistleblowers in the prison system. I thick corruption is so entrenched in the Thai system that it will be impossible to wipe out or even reduce it to a manageable level. Wasn't there a survey some time ago where 80% of Thais said that corruption was acceptable if it didn't effect them? What hope do the honest people have?

[jaltsc]

"Meanwhile, some 10 or 20 inmates convicted in drug-trafficking cases will be moved from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison to the isolated Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi to block them from having access to drug traffickers..."

That should solve the problem. After all, as we all know, it's only those 10-20 convicted drug traffickers who have anything to do with drugs. Never thieves, pimps, murderers, extortionists, etc. Oh, did I forget to mention corrupt officials?

Edited August 21, 2012 by jaltsc

[chrisinth]

"Citing investigation results, the officer said Od sae Phua had detected drug-dealing activities inside the prison on July 30 and had reported to his superiors on August 17 because other prison officials kept pleading with him to keep quiet or come to an agreement. He also reportedly refused to accept a Bt200,000 bribe for turning a blind eye to the smuggling.

"Od might have wavered a bit during this 17-day period but decided to report about it on August 17, and was shot dead the very next day," Ronnaphong said."

If the investigation has been concluded, where are the resulting arrests? If they have established someone offered him Bt200,000, then surely they must have a name?

Or is this another case of we have investigated, case closed? Hopefully there will be follow-up actions on this.

[spidermike007]

Fire every single guard, and prison official, at this nest of thieves. Find the ones culpable, and jail them for life. Fine their families 5,000,000 baht each, take away their homes, and make the entire family homeless, while the person responsible is rotting in prison. That might send a message. But, as usual, this will go away. In Thailand when things reach a fevered pitch with the media, attention of brought to bear, but after things settle down, all is forgotten. The facts here are there was a good man trying to do the right thing. Will Thailand acknowledge that, and do something about it, or will they allow the system to remain broken, and behave like cowards, and do nothing? These guards are a sub human form of life. On the level of a cockroach, or a vermin. They must be rooted out, if anything is to change, and Thailand is to progress and move forward.

[duncanm]

When I placement test one of the questions we ask is what improvements they'd like to see in their country. About 90% say that they'd like to see corruption dealt with.

Sadly I don't think anyone knows how to start solving the problem since those in a position to fix it are hardly going to start by putting themselves in jail. I'd guess maybe they could put a task force together if they sifted carefully enough through the army.

[OZEMADE]

When I placement test one of the questions we ask is what improvements they'd like to see in their country. About 90% say that they'd like to see corruption dealt with.

Sadly I don't think anyone knows how to start solving the problem since those in a position to fix it are hardly going to start by putting themselves in jail. I'd guess maybe they could put a task force together if they sifted carefully enough through the army.

I dont think anyone understands. it is the drugs that make a heap of cash for the guards and inmates. If anyone stands in their way, they will kill you. Death means nothing to these people.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/578144-incorruptible-prison-guard-slain-drug-gang-blamed/

Edited August 21, 2012 by OZEMADE

[fish fingers]

They should put up a statue to this guy in his memory and for what he stood for, sounds like a very brave man to work in such a place and stick to his values and a tragic end

Edited August 21, 2012 by fish fingers

[MEL1]

"Meanwhile, Phitsanulok prison chief Somjit Satsanyawut said he would step up measures to free his facility of drug problems.

As part of this measure, relatives will not be allowed to bring in any food for the inmates because the prison already spends about Bt80,000 to Bt100,000 daily on feeding the prisoners, he said."

My ass they spend that much - there's barely 2000 inmates at max - that would be 500 baht on food a day!! B.S.

Prob more like 100 baht a day - so there's between 60-80,000 baht a day missing - as identified by the prison chief himself.

That's half a million + (baht a week)..... = 26 million a year - just on food alone!

Where's that going Khun Somjit Satsanyawut ? You just named yourself as a culprit, as if we didn't know already.

Well done, and congratulations.

I may take an unidentified visit to see how big your house is, and catch a few piccies of your Benz/es..... AND THEN WE'LL SEE ABOUT daily food costs.

-mel.

[Bluespunk]

I think that part of the problem is shown in the White zone comments made by the prison chief. He wants the whole prison to be seen as drug free, as that will give him a better "face rating". His concern is PR and perception not reality. This "white zone" will grow and grow, not because the prison is eradicating drug use but because the prison wants people to think it is.

[asiawatcher]

Why use "border patrol guards" to monitor the 'exterior'. But let's face it, the fish always "stinks" from the head down. Prison guards the world over have a bad rep and they all have support from rotten cops so hardly news worthy other than the question... "Will the guards and shooter be brought to justice?" I doubt it.