Top Cops Indicted Over Corruption: Thailand

[webfact]

Top cops indicted over corruption

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy police inspector-general Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangpraphai and two other senior officers have been indicted for convincing a suspect to pay a gambling debt worth Bt10 million in exchange for not handing him to Chiang Mai police for skipping a court hearing three years ago.

In yesterday's verdict, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) also recommended that Wichai, Pol Lt-Colonel Supphakrit Duenjaengram and Pol Captain Thaweesak Kosayanont be prosecuted for demanding bribes as well as negligence of duty. It also recommended disciplinary action against the three officers.

Wichai, who was considered an outstanding officer, was commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1 until his transfer to inactive duty in June over his failure to disperse anti-government rallies. According to NACC, the three officers arrested a man in October 2009 for skipping a Court of Appeals session where he was to hear the verdict on his indictment for attempted murder.

Then-commander of MPD 1 and two officers from Lat Phrao station arrested him and demanded he pay a Bt10-million gambling debt. The NACC did not say who owed the debt or to whom it was to be paid.

-- The Nation 2012-09-21

[asiawatcher]

Getting priorities right, coercing an alleged perp to pay a gambling debt rather than face court, one could presume the debt to be paid would have its rewards. Hardly a surprising story really. Always back the one with the pay day attached. T.i.T.

[moe666]

At least the guy had the money

[GentlemanJim]

I wonder where the allegiance of these three policemen are? Whilst the indictment is admirable, one can't help feeling that these are not Thaksin's men and are being completely swept out of the vipers nest. It should be interesting as the story unfolds. Whilst I applaud any attempt to stamp out corruption, the actions being taken here are not 'normal' behaviour for Thailand, in fact they almost seem corrupt in their nature. If it smells like a kipper, it probably is a kipper. Still, that's 3 down several hundred thousand to go.

[noitom]

What happened to the Red Bull case? The cop who obstructed justice, the staff who colluded with the cop in obstructing justice, and last but not least, what happened to the case of the Ferrari driver who killed the cop? Has this case been swept under the carpet? Has anyone heard anything? Is the newspaper intending to follow up on this?

[Artisi]

What happened to the Red Bull case? The cop who obstructed justice, the staff who colluded with the cop in obstructing justice, and last but not least, what happened to the case of the Ferrari driver who killed the cop? Has this case been swept under the carpet? Has anyone heard anything? Is the newspaper intending to follow up on this?

Shhhh, you aren't supposed to ask these questions.

[spidermike007]

What happened to the Red Bull case? The cop who obstructed justice, the staff who colluded with the cop in obstructing justice, and last but not least, what happened to the case of the Ferrari driver who killed the cop? Has this case been swept under the carpet? Has anyone heard anything? Is the newspaper intending to follow up on this?

It was swept under the rug, just like every other instance. Thailand is doing the least to fight corruption, of all nations in the "free" world. There is absolutely no fight in them. The powers that be here will fight tooth and nail to avoid having their gravy train interrupted, and the authorities and nearly completely impotent. Like 12 year olds fighting real men. Any, and all stories you read about the "fight" are only for public consumption. Thailand is decades away from positive change. Where is the Anna Hazari of Thailand? Only when Thailand drops from #25 in the world, to #50 in the world (that will definitely happen, just give this country enough time to destroy itself) will a fight be waged. By that time, the oligarchs will have their money offshore.

[lizardtongue]

It puts into prospective the Bt 300,000 needed to 'pass' the police entrance exam.

[Pinot]

When you get up there in the high ranks you can pick and chose your targets. You don't have to screw around with 300 baht helmet fines when you're a Major General. You have to assume everyone is on the take. You just have to avoid them taking from you.

[Buchholz]

Deputy police inspector-general Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangpraphai and two other senior officers have been indicted for convincing a suspect to pay a gambling debt worth Bt10 million in exchange for not handing him to Chiang Mai police for skipping a court hearing three years ago.

Deputy Police Inspector-General Police Major-General Wichai has now resigned his position.

He denies all charges and said he will explain more later today in a press conference.

.

Edited September 21, 2012 by Buchholz

[ricardofel]

500 baht fine and a transfer for 10 days

[McMagus]

If 5 cops were found guilty of murder (3 of whom were sentenced to death), can just walk out of gaol...this isn't really such a newsy story. Now if there was some consistency in sentencing, that would be news.

[likewise]

I used to translate for the local coppers sometimes, now I rarely go and ignore the phone call, mainly for the reason that the things I see and hear there are things you'd think to hear in some kind of gangster den and not in a police station. Mind you there are a few police men for which I still translate because they are outstanding guys, sadly enough they are a minority group.

[hellodolly]

What happened to the Red Bull case? The cop who obstructed justice, the staff who colluded with the cop in obstructing justice, and last but not least, what happened to the case of the Ferrari driver who killed the cop? Has this case been swept under the carpet? Has anyone heard anything? Is the newspaper intending to follow up on this?

We might never know what the news papers do.That is unless we buy them. TV is not going to tell us if the nation dosen't print it and even then we know the information can be shall we say dodgy.

I found it interesting that he paid 10,000,000Baht in gambling debts. If it wasn't the policeman's debts what had they received to do the job from the one who owed the money.

Not sure but it seems to be that more and more action is being taken against crooked cops. Or at least being recognized rather than assumed just because they are a cop they are guilty of corruption.

[KHR1010]

deleted

Edited September 21, 2012 by KHR1010

[scar2]

When you get up there in the high ranks you can pick and chose your targets. You don't have to screw around with 300 baht helmet fines when you're a Major General. You have to assume everyone is on the take. You just have to avoid them taking from you.

Yes, this is so true!

[JoeLing]

Wichai, who was considered an outstanding officer, was commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1 until his transfer to inactive duty ....

.... and then he started gambling?

[ramrod711]

How lousy can this job be, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) members go to work every day knowing that they make absolutely no difference in this country. On the other hand, they will never run out of work.

[Markaew]

500 baht fine and a transfer for 10 days

True.

From every story that I have read the cop just gets transfered.

[Farangdam]

10,000,000 bath gambling debt is crazy this policeman so good to be alive. he was kept alive so he can steel from the people for paying the interest of the debt for the whole life. better throw him inside the crocodile farm. by the way how much a thai policeman salary per month. he much be enjoying the life so gooood previously.....

[yougivemebaby]

When you get up there in the high ranks you can pick and chose your targets. You don't have to screw around with 300 baht helmet fines when you're a Major General. You have to assume everyone is on the take. You just have to avoid them taking from you.

They're more like predators that sometimes try to help control traffic and maybe get into a gun fight sometimes. It's all a balancing act.

[bigbamboo]

What happened to the Red Bull case? The cop who obstructed justice, the staff who colluded with the cop in obstructing justice, and last but not least, what happened to the case of the Ferrari driver who killed the cop? Has this case been swept under the carpet? Has anyone heard anything? Is the newspaper intending to follow up on this?

I would imagine the Thais will want the incident to disappear as quickly as the driver, both here and abroad.

[spidermike007]

When you get up there in the high ranks you can pick and chose your targets. You don't have to screw around with 300 baht helmet fines when you're a Major General. You have to assume everyone is on the take. You just have to avoid them taking from you.

They're more like predators that sometimes try to help control traffic and maybe get into a gun fight sometimes. It's all a balancing act.

We call them a revenue collection agency. That is the extent of it. there may be a few detectives in

the LOS, that actually work on fighting, and solving crime, but we are talking about very few. Ever

heard of the keystone cops? They were more serious than these clowns.