Phuket chief denies drug payoff, developer extortion claims

[webfact]

Phuket chief denies drug payoff, developer extortion claims
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol has denounced accusations claiming that he accepted cash from drug suspects to overlook test results and that he attempted to extort money from developers by holding their machinery for ransom.

Chief Veera flatly denied the allegations: “I have never sought benefits, money or otherwise, to release drug suspects. It’s not true, and all the other things the handbills say are not true.”

The accusations were printed on handbills being circulated throughout Kalim, Kamala and Patong. Many of the leaflets were found strewn along the side of the road between Kalim and Kamala on Sunday morning.

The leaflets, dated July 1, 2013, allege malfeasance by Chief Veera in two specific cases.

“Mr Veera had police set up a checkpoint to test teenagers for drugs. When some teenagers tested positive, the teenagers were asked to pay 8,000 baht to avoid being sent to a mandatory drug rehabilitation program,” the handbills allege.

The leaflets, printed only in Thai, also accuse Mr Veera of seizing a backhoe at one location and three 10-wheeled trucks on Big Buddha hill, but not pressing any charges. Instead, he asked for about 200,000 baht to have the vehicles returned, the handbills alleged.

The leaflets called for the Ministry of Interior to remove Chief Veera from office by July 31.

“Or else there will be protests to close the road and the Kathu District Office and we will do every thing we can to get justice,” the writers warned.

Chief Veera remained undeterred by the allegations and vowed to continue his fight against land encroachment and drugs.

“I have even posted one of the leaflets at the Kathu District Office so everyone can read it,” he said.

“I believe the handbills came from someone who lost out due to my investigations into illegal deforestation and encroachment on protected forest areas. These investigations have doubtless cost some people a lot of money,” he said.

Police at Patong, Thung Thong and Kamala have been asked to identify and arrest those responsible for creating the documents and distributing them.

“Police have found CCTV footage showing the handbills being thrown from a black car in Soi Kathu Waterfall at about 1am on Sunday… After the car exited the soi we couldn’t see where it went,” Chief Veera said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-chief-denies-drug-payoff-developer-extortion-claims-21585.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-09

[LivinginKata]

“Police have found CCTV footage showing the handbills being thrown from a black car in Soi Kathu Waterfall at about 1am on Sunday…"

I wonder if there is any CCTV footage of bribes being accepted - oh wait, the cameras were out of order

[clockman]

No smoke without fire!

[lee b]

“Police have found CCTV footage showing the handbills being thrown from a black car in Soi Kathu Waterfall at about 1am on Sunday…"

I wonder if there is any CCTV footage of bribes being accepted - oh wait, the cameras were out of order

wow !!!

[Guest]

Maybe we could have a pink whistle campaign together with 0 baht bills in Phuket.

People would carry these pink whistles and in occasions when they are asked for corruption money or they witness such an event, they would blow the whistle so that people gather around to see and document what is happening. With few, brave and strong enough citizens that could start a movement.

In India: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_rupee_note

A zero rupee note is a type of fantasy money issued in India as a means of helping to fight systemic political corruption. The notes are paid in protest by angry citizens to government functionaries who solicitbribes in return for services which are supposed to be free. Zero rupee notes, which are made to resemble the regular 50 rupee banknote of India, are the creation of a non-governmental organization known as 5th Pillar, which has distributed over 1.3 million pieces since their inception in 2007. The notes remain in current use in 2011.

[ezzra]

Deny, deny, deny, and when all seems quiet, deny some more, it works wonders here

in Thailand...

[rwhoov]

Everyone KNOWS there is no corruption in Thailand... Said with tongue firmly in cheek.

[Pikeybkk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23231318

corruption index...check oput thailand....lol

[CIHUAHUA]

If the tuk-took drivers in Poo-ket are an indication of the mentality of the rest of the people in power, then let the hand-bills fly.

MPG = money, power and greed.

[aussieinthailand]

Umm do ya think it's at all possible that he just might belling the truth and the land developer is well pissed off that he's illegal operations are now stopped and he's now trying one on? or do you think that land developers are good and honest law abiding people?

[JetsetBkk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23231318

corruption index...check oput thailand....lol

Thailand 18%! lol

More like 80%.

[steelepulse]

This guy has stepped on a lot of toes, so if they can't get him transferred, they can (try to) tarnish his reputation. I actually think he's the least corrupt official Phuket has seen in quite some time.

[eezergood]

He does seem to have the balls for this job!