Phuket taxi cartel head arrested, denies extortion charges

[Lite Beer]

Phuket taxi cartel head arrested, denies extortion charges
Phuket Gazette

Pom Sukkasam (left), 42, and his brother Sern, 52, have denied charges of using physical violence to extort money from taxi drivers. Image: YouTube

PHUKET: -- The head of the group of taxis operating out of Central Festival Phuket and his brother have denied using physical violence to extort money from fellow taxi drivers operating at the renowned shopping mall.

Pom Sukkasam, 42, and his brother Sern Sukkasam, 52, were arrested by Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers on Sunday and taken to Bangkok, where they were presented at a press conference yesterday.

Both men have been handed three charges of extortion, and both men deny them.

Lt Col Somboon Sarasitt of the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) Bureau of Special Crime Region 3 told the Phuket Gazette that Mr Pom and Mr Sern had been arrested because they extorted money from the taxi drivers in their group.

“If drivers failed to pay, they were assaulted,” he said.

Mr Pom, who along with his brother is out on bail and returned to Phuket today, described the allegations as completely false.

“Look at me,” he said. “Do you think I am that kind of person?”

Mr Pom believes he knows who filed a complaint against him to the DSI – a member of his group who has repeatedly complained about the group’s rules.

“I have been pushing to make all the taxis at Central Festival legal, but this guy didn’t like it,” he said.

“I’m not mad at him, but I am upset that he didn’t think about Phuket’s image and the reputation of taxi drivers,” he said.

The arrests are the first following the opening of the DSI’s crime centers in Phuket and the publishing of a list of “taxi mafia” figures last month (story here).

On August 9, DSI Chief Tarit Pengdith said that within a month at least one person – on or off the list – would be arrested and punished for his part in Phuket’s illegal taxi operations.

“The Minister of Tourism and Sports, the Royal Thai Police and the DSI are working together in order to crack down on illegal taxis in Phuket and get the ‘big fish’,” said Col Somboon.

“The DSI investigates the illegal taxi business, then hands over the information to the CSD, a division of the Royal Thai Police. The CSD carries out the arrests,” he explained.

The campaign follows multiple complaints from tourists and diplomats. At the press conference yesterday, Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak said, “I have received complaints from ambassadors of 16 countries, including European countries, the USA, Australia, Japan, China, Korea and India, complaining about tourist scams in Phuket.

“It is creating a bad image for Thailand and putting in jeopardy the 2.2 trillion baht tourism target,” he said.

“We can only reach this target if tourists have confidence that they will be safe here,” he added.

Mr Somsak vowed to continue moving forward with the taxi industry cleanup.

“This is just the start. Our investigation of the figures on the DSI blacklist regarding illegal taxis is ongoing,” he said.

The cleanup project goes beyond arresting those they believe to be guilty. In the case of Central Festival, they will suggest restructuring the taxi system.

“We want the Central Festival organization to take over direct management of taxis there,” said Maj Natapol Ditsayatham of the DSI.

“Tomorrow, the DSI and the Phuket Land Transport Office will meet with Central Festival Phuket representatives to talk about this,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-taxi-cartel-head-arrested-denies-extortion-charges-22215.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-09-10

[Paangjang]

“We want the Central Festival organization to take over direct management of taxis there,” said Maj Natapol Ditsayatham of the DSI.

There is no such organization. Central World, Plaza, Westgate and Festival are managed by CPN.

He's really done his homework, in talks with someone huh? http://www.cpn.co.th/index.aspx

[lee b]

Ambassadors from 16 countrys. Shame nothing is ever done.

[LivinginKata]

Looks to me like this is progress to curtail corruption. But I wonder if this is really just a changing of those pulling the strings.

[yougivemebaby]

Let's see some hard physical evidence or this is just politics 101. These people are simpletons. If this is politicians bashing legitimate businesses, they should be charged themselves.

[Rionoir]

Looks like some police bigwig wants to take over operations there.

[Phronesis]

Pom, how much have you made on fares today?

About 3000 baht Sern. It has been a slow day with all the rain and that bloody underpass construction.

No problem, I will going and bash Somchai and Bon and then we can go and bet on the football in Patong and get drunk.

[FireMedic]

This is all great news... Now what about the Patong, Karon, and Kata gang? Why not start there? Or maybe they want to arrest others to have them sing like canaries about the whole operation.... We'll see.

[deecee10]

“Look at me,” he said. “Do you think I am that kind of person?”

Yes.

[NamKangMan]

This is all great news... Now what about the Patong, Karon, and Kata gang? Why not start there? Or maybe they want to arrest others to have them sing like canaries about the whole operation.... We'll see.

No need. The arrest of these two guys has officially "cleaned the industry up."

Phuket's tarnished image has now been restored. :)

[allan michaud]

“Look at me,” he said. “Do you think I am that kind of person?”

Errr...yes.

“I’m not mad at him, but I am upset that he didn’t think about Phuket’s image and the reputation of taxi drivers,”

[steelepulse]

These two guys don't look like decent upstanding citizens to me. Reading in another news source these two allegedly extorted 100K and 200K from the 179 drivers in the queue according to a DSI major. You'd think with that money they could get a makeover to appear less thuggish.

[Katipo]

“I’m not mad at him, but I am upset that he didn’t think about Phuket’s image and the reputation of taxi drivers,” he said.......

....again, reputation and image. Well I suppose he got one part right, no one damages the image of taxi drivers more than taxi drivers, and the police more than police, and politicians more than..... well, you get the idea.

[JoeThePoster]

Witnesses will be needed for conviction, yes?

[asdecas]

"Look at me," he said,"Do you think I am that kind of person?"

Answers on the back of a nine-Baht note please, to Lt Col Somboon.

[gmac]

“Look at me,” he said. “Do you think I am that kind of person?”

Yes.

Yes indeed. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but one look at that photo and that is exactly the sort of persons you expect them to be. If I shook hands with one of them I'd definitely count my fingers afterwards!

[GrantSmith]

"On August 9, DSI Chief Tarit Pengdith said that within a month at least one person – on or off the list – would be arrested and punished for his part in Phuket’s illegal taxi operations."

'nough said really...

[PEP]

Airport Taxi? Airport Taxi? AirportTaxi? Mmm! Would leave the Central Festival in the Scam/Standover/Corruption Race for dead - - - "Clean as whistles out there!"

[little mary sunshine]

Funny, they don't look Russian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BestBitterPhuket]

If they do crack down on this menace for real, it is a big step, but I am sceptical until I see the results. It looks good though, but maybe the intention is to create an illusion. I hope it is real though.

[yourauntbob]

I am surprised its only 16 ambassadors

[pilm]

“I’m not mad at him, but I am upset that he didn’t think about Phuket’s image and the reputation of taxi drivers,”

Good play.

Should have added 'I love Thailand and Phuket so much, I just want to protect their image and reputation before anything else. Long live the King!'

[chooka]

These two guys don't look like decent upstanding citizens to me. Reading in another news source these two allegedly extorted 100K and 200K from the 179 drivers in the queue according to a DSI major. You'd think with that money they could get a makeover to appear less thuggish.

They actually look quite smug and unconcerned, sort of can't touch me.

[stoli]

Let's see some hard physical evidence or this is just politics 101. These people are simpletons. If this is politicians bashing legitimate businesses, they should be charged themselves.

Even though these simpletons, as you call them, probably have advanced degrees over your education, you must feel that they are idiots. Oh, what's the use in responding.....

[alfalfa19]

Look at me, he said. Do you think I am that kind of person? Umm, errr, YES!

[rucker4012]

Same guy that let all air out of my two left tires at Central when I parked on side road along side behind MacDonalds. He told me I couldn't park there. (No red white curb, just group of taxi drivers playing cards). I continued walking to Central, ignoring his order, returned after fifteen minutes to my two flat tires.

[eezergood]

Look at the fiasco of parking !

[Bagwan]

Let's see some hard physical evidence or this is just politics 101. These people are simpletons. If this is politicians bashing legitimate businesses, they should be charged themselves.

Even though these simpletons, as you call them, probably have advanced degrees over your education, you must feel that they are idiots. Oh, what's the use in responding.....

Given the risible content of your post I would say that there is little point in you responding. Have you any idea of the appalling standard of Thai education?

[Equalizer]

I am sure with today's technology someone can quite easily come up with some kind of bike meter for the million plus bike taxis. Then simply put it into law that all bike taxis must use a meter and then legislate the start price and price per kilo there after. BOOOOM situation resolved.

[JulesMad]

“Look at me,” he said. “Do you think I am that kind of person?”

Yes.

Indeed! This is the oldest excuse of any criminal, used by pedophiles, murderers, rapists and so...

Pathetic guy