Cops Demand Money From Shopowner In Front Of Reporter

[Thai at Heart]

_{British police have been doing it for years and years,many cases of corruption in the british police force,even sending people to jail for offences not committed.Most countries have corrupt cops,many far more dangerous than the greedy thai cops}

Most countries have cops that are more dangerous than the Thai cops?

Really?

I think the Thai cops are getting worse.

The missus was watching TV the other day. They were showing CCTV footage of a bunch of guys accosting a woman in the lobby of her condo. She was shouting for help and the guys just said "just a husband and wife arguing" and everyone moved on.

They took her to her room and robbed her.

When I saw this and the wife explained what was going on, my first question was "how many of the guys are police". Apparently three of them were. No shock, really.

Thailands police force is just an organised crime gang. I am sure there are worse in Africa but in civilized countries, they are the lowest.

I think the advent of CCTV, smartphones and the internet is slowly starting to throw a lot of light on this mafia organisation. More power to technology. If there hadn't been any CCTV of the woman getting robbed, they would get away with it. If there was no CCTV of the tailors shop, they would get away with it. It gets past the "he said, she said", my word against yours. Even 5 years ago, these would never have become public stories.

More power to the people, keep recording this crap, and it makes a tiny change. And eradicating corruption is only going to be achieved in tiny steps, but its a start. That said, we have a new police chief in our town, and reportedly, his instructions are, "Get cash", so the car checkpoints are out in force everywhere.

Edited February 11, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[FarangTalk]

_{British police have been doing it for years and years,many cases of corruption in the british police force,even sending people to jail for offences not committed.Most countries have corrupt cops,many far more dangerous than the greedy thai cops}

Most countries have cops that are more dangerous than the Thai cops?

Really?

I think the Thai cops are getting worse.

The missus was watching TV the other day. They were showing CCTV footage of a bunch of guys accosting a woman in the lobby of her condo. She was shouting for help and the guys just said "just a husband and wife arguing" and everyone moved on.

They took her to her room and robbed her.

When I saw this and the wife explained what was going on, my first question was "how many of the guys are police". Apparently three of them were. No shock, really.

Thailands police force is just an organised crime gang. I am sure there are worse in Africa but in civilized countries, they are the lowest.

Agreed. You only have to read about the repeated offenses they are responsible for; extra-judicial killings during the War on Drugs, the theft of gems and killing of Saudi diplomats during the Blue Diamond Affair, murders of tourists and subsequent cover-ups (Adam Lloyd and Vanessa Arscott, Leo del Pinto etc), maiming young women when they refuse to sleep with them... the list is endless.

[kurnell]

How is this news? Is there a single Thai person above 5 years of age that does not know that this goes on?

[maturebrit]

Next: Pheu Thai candidate Pol. General Pongsapat promises to crack down on police extortion when elected

sure..... and pigs will learn to fly

[FarangTalk]

How is this news?

Because someone has talked about it and acknowledged it.

A rare occurrence indeed.

[Asiantravel]

While I'm sure to many this is merely confirmation of something that was long suspected.

Although that it could go right to the top of the system is maybe more of a surprise?

So does anyone here think it could have spread to the judiciary? For example, I've often wondered what chances a foreign businessman has here of taking on a Thai in the civil courts and receiving a fair and balanced result? After all, judges don't get paid very much here, unlike in the West?

[AleG]

Just do the math. Compare what they own with their salary and you have the truth.

Pay peanuts, get monkeys....

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Unless salaries are rised to the point that a police station chief can afford, at least, a mansion and a BMW or two it won't make a difference.

Or a pink Bentley.

Or a monopolistic cell phone service company...

[Payboy]

Couldn't they just come in as a dragon dance troupe and take their angpao's like the local thugs do?

[Trembly]

Finally Porn told them that Banjong was a journalist. Banjong then wai-ed the officers and asked them if they were aware that their boss, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, had recently issued an order prohibiting police from accepting money for the Chinese New Year

I'm always confused by the wai. A mark of respect, something you do to someone older or more important? Certainly not something you would do to two corrupt police?

No collecting money on Chinese New Year? How about no collecting money on any day of the year.

It was probably a wai dripping with sarcasm.

[chooka]

Been going on for years

[draftvader]

Finally Porn told them that Banjong was a journalist. Banjong then wai-ed the officers and asked them if they were aware that their boss, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, had recently issued an order prohibiting police from accepting money for the Chinese New Year

I'm always confused by the wai. A mark of respect, something you do to someone older or more important? Certainly not something you would do to two corrupt police?

No collecting money on Chinese New Year? How about no collecting money on any day of the year.

I think if my contact had just outed me as a journo to 2 openly corrupt police officers I would start with a WHOLE bunch of deferrence then move onto business as discretely as possible!

[Payboy]

Been going on for years

At around 2:30, is that Inspector Clouseau giving the voice over?

[pedro01]

While I'm sure to many this is merely confirmation of something that was long suspected.

Although that it could go right to the top of the system is maybe more of a surprise?

So does anyone here think it could have spread to the judiciary? For example, I've often wondered what chances a foreign businessman has here of taking on a Thai in the civil courts and receiving a fair and balanced result? After all, judges don't get paid very much here, unlike in the West?

Think is could have spread to the judiciary?

I know whether it has or not. Problem is you can go to jail for discussing it.

[mistitikimikis]

"My boss in fact receives more money than me and other [officers]. The money I collected is for the boss - we got a very small sum."

Seems indeed a pyramide "business" as a local Thai confirmed me.

[EyesWideOpen]

One of the reasons I decided long ago to never ever be in business here. I would not respond well to monkeys in brown suits extorting me for money each month.....

[h90]

One of the reasons I decided long ago to never ever be in business here. I would not respond well to monkeys in brown suits extorting me for money each month.....

We never paid anything beside:

The cops came and asked for a donation for a motorbike to check our area better. Full with official letter and confirmation about the small sum we paid.

Once they came with fire extinguisher and told that it would be important for a company like us to have 1. We bought two from them, most probable slightly inflated price. Of course again with official letter and bill.

[Lite Beer]

EXTORTION OF MONEY

Police officer removed and two sergeants detained pending investigation

A police officer allegedly involving in extorting money from a shop owner has been removed to headquarters while two sergeants have been put into detention for 30 days, city police chief Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrajang said Monday.

The incident hit the headlines today, as it took place in front of a television journalist who was talking to the owner of the men's clothing store at the time.

Banjong Cheewamongkonkarn, a journalist with Nation TV, wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that he was talking to the owner of the Bovorn Fashion shop in the Si Phraya area when two police officers walked into the shop. One of them demanded of the owner: "Do you have the present money?"

The owner told them to return later as the time was not right. He finally told police about Banjong after they refused to go. They looked stunned and one of them said, "My boss in fact receives more money than me and other [officers]. The money I collect is for the boss - we get a very small sum." However, both officers left the shop. The incident was recorded by the shop’s security cameras.

Kamronwit said an investigative panel would be set up to look into the allegation. Bang Rak police station would launch a probe into the case before submitting a report to headquarters.

The commissioner refused to further comment, saying he would wait for results of the investigation. When asked to comment on the policeman's claim that the money was for the boss, he repeated that he wanted to wait for the results of the investigation.

-- The Nation 2013-02-11

[Songhua]

EXTORTION OF MONEY

Police officer removed and two sergeants detained pending investigation

A police officer allegedly involving in extorting money from a shop owner has been removed to headquarters while two sergeants have been put into detention for 30 days, city police chief Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrajang said Monday.

The incident hit the headlines today, as it took place in front of a television journalist who was talking to the owner of the men's clothing store at the time.

Banjong Cheewamongkonkarn, a journalist with Nation TV, wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that he was talking to the owner of the Bovorn Fashion shop in the Si Phraya area when two police officers walked into the shop. One of them demanded of the owner: "Do you have the present money?"

The owner told them to return later as the time was not right. He finally told police about Banjong after they refused to go. They looked stunned and one of them said, "My boss in fact receives more money than me and other [officers]. The money I collect is for the boss - we get a very small sum." However, both officers left the shop. The incident was recorded by the shop’s security cameras.

Kamronwit said an investigative panel would be set up to look into the allegation. Bang Rak police station would launch a probe into the case before submitting a report to headquarters.

The commissioner refused to further comment, saying he would wait for results of the investigation. When asked to comment on the policeman's claim that the money was for the boss, he repeated that he wanted to wait for the results of the investigation.

-- The Nation 2013-02-11

Presumably the scene in the boss' office was not a pretty one after they kindly dobbed him in.

Once again, investigate this one single case and apply a bandaid. But still allow it to run rampant on any other day (after all, it's only wrong if you get caught).

[katana]

Appears the police are regular 'customers' at the shop.

On the shop's webpage where they give a summary of their shop and services, Boworn Fashion House boast about having several 'poo-yais' in the area as their customers including Police Commissioner and Associate Professor Sombat Wiangsuthorn, Police General Seripisuk Temiyawet and Police Major General and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Wichai Sangpraphai.

http://bowornfashion...blogspot.co.uk/

Edited February 11, 2013 by katana

[Pimay1]

Appears the police are regular 'customers' at the shop.

On the shop's webpage where they give a summary of their shop and services, Bowron Fashion House boast about having several 'poo-yais' in the area as their customers including Police Commissioner and Associate Professor Sombat Wiangsuthorn, Police General Seripisuk Temiyawet and Police Major General and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Wichai Sangpraphai.

http://bowornfashion...blogspot.co.uk/

You don't think that any of these upstanding high ranking police officials would be involved in this do you? No didn't think so.

[katana]

Appears the police are regular 'customers' at the shop.

On the shop's webpage where they give a summary of their shop and services, Bowron Fashion House boast about having several 'poo-yais' in the area as their customers including Police Commissioner and Associate Professor Sombat Wiangsuthorn, Police General Seripisuk Temiyawet and Police Major General and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Wichai Sangpraphai.

http://bowornfashion...blogspot.co.uk/

You don't think that any of these upstanding high ranking police officials would be involved in this do you? No didn't think so.

Yes I did think they might, that was kind of why I posted it!

Edited February 11, 2013 by katana

[Considered Opinion]

The fact that cops will casually do this in front of potential witnesses, shows how pervasive the corruption is.

i'm not saying the cops are bad. Its just the system that exists.

Theres lots of work to do to bring LOS into the community of modern nations.

Not in our lifetimes IMHO....

[Baerboxer]

Didn't the PM promise to crackdown on corruption a while ago, here it is happening in front of a reporter and captured on a security camera, what is she going to do about it?

Sweet FA as usual.

[rubl]

Next: Pheu Thai candidate Pol. General Pongsapat promises to crack down on police extortion when elected

sure..... and pigs will learn to fly

I only mentioned 'promises', not more than that

[chooka]

One of the reasons I decided long ago to never ever be in business here. I would not respond well to monkeys in brown suits extorting me for money each month.....

We never paid anything beside:

The cops came and asked for a donation for a motorbike to check our area better. Full with official letter and confirmation about the small sum we paid.

Once they came with fire extinguisher and told that it would be important for a company like us to have 1. We bought two from them, most probable slightly inflated price. Of course again with official letter and bill.

What was the fine print on the official extinguisher letter.

Fail to purchase and your business could have wiring problems?

[pete66]

Hey, if Thai police didn't extort money at every opportunity, they'd have to give up their multiple mia noys. Not gonna happen.

Actually, I got told that police use their mia noys to hide money from the lawful wife, so if they ever divorce, the wife doesn't get her share.

And the mia noy eventually gets traded in for a younger model, and the policeman passes the "goods" onto the next mia noy. The old one can't do anything for fear of something nasty happening to her face.

Thailand is a great country, but the police suck big time. Nobody respects them. The Thai people hate them as well. Extortion, extortion, extortion. So sad.

[korbandallas]

Corruption will continue because its not just the police who are doing wrong do you think that the shop owners declare full tax etc.

Dodgy business and dodgy cops!!!

[Jerrytheyoung]

interesting will be the follow up of the story. Is the Nation introducing the case in court for the sake of the Country?

[warfie]

While I'm sure to many this is merely confirmation of something that was long suspected.

Although that it could go right to the top of the system is maybe more of a surprise?

So does anyone here think it could have spread to the judiciary? For example, I've often wondered what chances a foreign businessman has here of taking on a Thai in the civil courts and receiving a fair and balanced result? After all, judges don't get paid very much here, unlike in the West?

I can tell you from bitter experience that despite the evidence, the Thai won.

THEN I was ordered to pay the other parties legal costs... NOT BL00DY LIKELY!

[pete66]

While I'm sure to many this is merely confirmation of something that was long suspected.

Although that it could go right to the top of the system is maybe more of a surprise?

So does anyone here think it could have spread to the judiciary? For example, I've often wondered what chances a foreign businessman has here of taking on a Thai in the civil courts and receiving a fair and balanced result? After all, judges don't get paid very much here, unlike in the West?

I can tell you from bitter experience that despite the evidence, the Thai won.

THEN I was ordered to pay the other parties legal costs... NOT BL00DY LIKELY!

You do realize the judges get the majority of their income from lawyers & associates don't you? I got introduced to a lawyer that had never lost a case .... but he was very expensive ... I wonder why? Sounds like your lawyer got outbid.