Cops Demand Money From Shopowner In Front Of Reporter

[metisdead]

It is generally accepted, but not written into law, that quoting the first two or three sentences of an article and giving a link to the source is considered “fair use” and not a violation of copyright. One post and a reply have been removed for this reason.

[pistachios]

Clearly when a perspective policeman forks over his million baht to enter the force, it appears IQ is not a determinant factor. Extort money in front of a CCTV with a reporter standing there, and then dob out your boss ?? Wow......... I can see the horrific punishment of being forced to step back from the feeding trough for a while. Yes, the famous INACTIVE POST !!!!!!! The most dreaded punishment handed out by ranking policemen who are angry the bozo police at the bottom get caught and make everyone look bad for a while.

No problem, next week there will be a new story of police gone bad. They truly are the blight of Thailand. Wonder what it would take to actually reform them. I have heard the reform talk for many years here, and yet it seems to get worse.

Or more are getting caught due to electronic devices .....

The LAPD bozos who fired more than 20 bullets at the wrong truck (a blue toyota while they were looking for a grey nissan), luckily only injuring two old ladies, got the same punishment : paid leave.

[webfact]

UPDATE:

POLICE

Police pair who sought 'Ang Pao' detained

PATINYA IAMTARN

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Two police were detained yesterday for 30 days after they were witnessed by a Nation TV reporter trying to extort ang pao - a gift of money given at Chinese New Year - from a tailor's shop on Sunday in Bangkok's Si Phraya area.

"We have to wait for the investigation result from the Metropolitan Police Bureau. So far, they appear to have breached discipline," police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said. "I issued an order earlier, prohibiting police from taking ang pao."

Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrajang, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said Pol Lt Colonel Phongsak Subindee, Bang Rak station's superintendent on crime suppression was transferred to an inactive post for 30 days, while Pol Snr Sgt Majors Prasarn Koeymunag and Anuchit Muenyuth, who were caught on the shop's security cameras demanding money for Chinese New Year from the owner, were detained for 30 days.

A fact-finding panel has been formed to probe the matter in parallel with the investigation by Bang Rak police.

The footage also showed some other people in the suit shop. Khamronwit said, without proof, that the others were police volunteers.

Banjong Cheewamongkonkarn of Nation TV wrote on Facebook he was talking to the owner of Bovorn Fashion when the two walked in and asked the owner. "Do you have the gift money?"

The officers said they wanted red packets, but the owner tried to say it was a bad time - as Banjong was a journalist. The two told Banjong their boss got more money than them and they were getting cash for their boss.

Adul said the probe would need to finish before deciding if the two should be charged for taking bribes or if superiors were involved.

The shop owner, Thanes Khamchum, said it was the first time policemen asked for anything from him, after opening this shop four years ago.

"If you ask me if I am afraid about the whole thing now becoming public, I am worried. But everything is based on |truth, there is nothing fabricated about it.

-- The Nation 2013-02-12

[EyesWideOpen]

Clearly when a perspective policeman forks over his million baht to enter the force, it appears IQ is not a determinant factor. Extort money in front of a CCTV with a reporter standing there, and then dob out your boss ?? Wow......... I can see the horrific punishment of being forced to step back from the feeding trough for a while. Yes, the famous INACTIVE POST !!!!!!! The most dreaded punishment handed out by ranking policemen who are angry the bozo police at the bottom get caught and make everyone look bad for a while.

No problem, next week there will be a new story of police gone bad. They truly are the blight of Thailand. Wonder what it would take to actually reform them. I have heard the reform talk for many years here, and yet it seems to get worse.

Or more are getting caught due to electronic devices .....

The LAPD bozos who fired more than 20 bullets at the wrong truck (a blue toyota while they were looking for a grey nissan), luckily only injuring two old ladies, got the same punishment : paid leave.

Yeah that was a bizarre story. Guess the police there are really on edge now that they think someone is hunting them down. Well at least they hit the truck in America. In Pattaya recently the police tried to stop a vehicle with gun fire, and ended up shooting each other.....

[mca]

So far, they appear to have breached discipline," police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said.

" I clearly gave orders to all police officers to only take the money when there were no witnesses" he added.

[OzMick]

Detained? Sort of like arrested, but no charges yet. I wonder what accommodations are provided for persons detained but not arrested.

[AleG]

when maffia = police

where to complain

Yesterday night on the news they were showing a horrible burned and mutilated girl, her "boss" had been torturing her for seven years. When she managed to run away and go to the police, they took her back to the "boss".

So where to complain indeed.

[apetley]

[quote name='Lite Beer' timestamp='1360538032' post='6103115'

The sergeant appeared stunned upon learning of Banjong's identity. However, he said, "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." Both police, however, left the shop. The incident was recorded by the shop's security cameras.

-- The Nation 2013-02-11

Obviously bought his post as there appears to be a total absence of brain cells with a quote like that.

What should he have said?

First rule of being a corrupt little piggie.

Never admit to anything especially when you know you're talking with a reporter.

[chooka]

UPDATE:

POLICE

Police pair who sought 'Ang Pao' detained

PATINYA IAMTARN

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Two police were detained yesterday for 30 days after they were witnessed by a Nation TV reporter trying to extort ang pao - a gift of money given at Chinese New Year - from a tailor's shop on Sunday in Bangkok's Si Phraya area.

"We have to wait for the investigation result from the Metropolitan Police Bureau. So far, they appear to have breached discipline," police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said. "I issued an order earlier, prohibiting police from taking ang pao."

Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrajang, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said Pol Lt Colonel Phongsak Subindee, Bang Rak station's superintendent on crime suppression was transferred to an inactive post for 30 days, while Pol Snr Sgt Majors Prasarn Koeymunag and Anuchit Muenyuth, who were caught on the shop's security cameras demanding money for Chinese New Year from the owner, were detained for 30 days.

A fact-finding panel has been formed to probe the matter in parallel with the investigation by Bang Rak police.

The footage also showed some other people in the suit shop. Khamronwit said, without proof, that the others were police volunteers.

Banjong Cheewamongkonkarn of Nation TV wrote on Facebook he was talking to the owner of Bovorn Fashion when the two walked in and asked the owner. "Do you have the gift money?"

The officers said they wanted red packets, but the owner tried to say it was a bad time - as Banjong was a journalist. The two told Banjong their boss got more money than them and they were getting cash for their boss.

Adul said the probe would need to finish before deciding if the two should be charged for taking bribes or if superiors were involved.

The shop owner, Thanes Khamchum, said it was the first time policemen asked for anything from him, after opening this shop four years ago.

"If you ask me if I am afraid about the whole thing now becoming public, I am worried. But everything is based on |truth, there is nothing fabricated about it.

-- The Nation 2013-02-12

Oh they had just gone along to collect thier gift of money, which is a Chinese custom on new year. No problem then.

[Ricardo]

The bit I find hard to credit is that a CCTV-camera somewhere in Bangkok was actually working !

I thought they were always switched-off or disabled, after installation and payment had been made, in order to save on electricity ?

[monkeycountry]

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 it is fair enough. If the officer is not allowed to extort shopowners, then how can he pay for a nice evening out on valentines day with his mia noi. I for one highly respect the Thai police - they make absolutely no attempts at hiding the fact that they are one of the worlds biggest mafias!

[Hunter88]

Join the police force and get rich. Why bother with a good education. Any wonder why Thailand has problems.

[dighambara]

Banjong got some big kahunas.

That's "Konahuanui"

[slipperx]

_{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.

what about south america.Mexico,Cambodia etc etc.We all know thai police are corrupt,but fail to say its not a shock or new,and totaly forget they arent the only ones.Just google this,and no doubt u will find murders etc etc by other police too

Oh right so that's all right then! You may as well say never mind the murderer because other people do it too. Just plain moronic!

[rkidlad]

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 don't know how long YOU have been in this country; but these coppers (corrupt as they may be) DO carry guns and it would not be the first time that someone (in this case the intrepid reporter) was shot & killed in the process of Police pursuing a suspected criminal, who then started to attack the 'officers" who then had no other way to defend their own lives, but to shoot & kill . . . . . . .

I'll tell you another thing for free: I would not like to be in that reporter's position, right now ! ! !

Lucky you're not a reporter then.

[coma]

Sack the rude grub.

[Card]

"As a sponsor, the shop outfits Nation TV anchormen in its suits."

isn't this the same thing?

[Pimay1]

"As a sponsor, the shop outfits Nation TV anchormen in its suits."

isn't this the same thing?

I would suspect there is a notation in the credits of the Nation broadcasts stating where the anchormen's wardrobe comes from. This is pretty standard in the US but before anyone jumps my bones I know this is not the US.

[slapout]

DPM Chalerm has been quoted as saying that it is OK to ask for money as it is a part of the Chinese new year tradition. As he is in charge of the RTP, any punitive action will end up in the "do nothing" file, while the money keeps flowing in.. I guess his sniffing out Terroists threats, in CM, should pull attention to what he defines as non acceptable behavior in Thailand.

I have noticed a lot of colored paper replacing currency at various Chinese festivities, wonder if Chalerm would take his share in funny money? Wonder if non Chinese could excuse themselves from joining the fun, due to lack of bloodline/interest?

[katana]

when maffia = police

where to complain

Yesterday night on the news they were showing a horrible burned and mutilated girl, her "boss" had been torturing her for seven years. When she managed to run away and go to the police, they took her back to the "boss".

So where to complain indeed.

I was reading about that awful story in Thairath yesterday.

Apparently she's ethnic Karen from Burma and the Thai couple were keeping her in a metal dog cage outside and regularly beating her and pouring boiling water over her for no apparent reason.

She had escaped once before, but the police captured her and for reasons best known to themselves, brought her straight back to the Thai couple.

Luckily now she's now being looked after in a children's home and the story's become too public for things to stay as they were.

The Thai police have filed several charges against the couple, however they're denying everything, saying her injuries were self-inflicted after she tripped over a pot of boiling water. They have bailed themselves out for 700,000 Baht.

http://www.thairath....t/region/326036

[Tanaka]

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?

Well, the deputy PM, Chalerm, said the other day that it was ok for police officers to demand bribes during the New Year holiday!! So these mafia morons can refer to him.