Phuket: DSI details cases of black taxi gangsterism

[webfact]

DSI details cases of black taxi gangsterism


Black taxi drivers blockade Serenity Resort and Residences by pulling down the security barrier last Friday. Screengrab from a video obtained by the DSI

PHUKET: -- At the meeting on Tuesday (October 1) to assess the performance so far of the new Centres for the Control of Organised Crimeat the airport and in Phuket Town, DSI and other officials discussed the problem of black taxi drivers who are simply ignoring the DSI cleanup campaign and are still threatening hotel guests and legal taxi drivers who have the nerve to invade their territory.

Pol Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, the commander of the Bureau of Special Crime Section 3, said, “We are still getting complaints about black taxi drivers acting as influential persons. Recently, two cases were reported to DSI for us to investigate.”

The first, he said, involved an Australian visitor staying at the new Novotel on Kamala Beach. The hotel package the visitor bought included a limousine with driver.

“He called the driver, but the driver was not allowed into the hotel because black taxi drivers blocked the way, and threatened to hurt the driver if he disobeyed them.

“The tourist was angry, and complained to the DSI.”

He added “After we received his complaints, we went to [the Novotel] and found that black taxi drivers were indeed blocking the way.”

The second case, he said, was on Friday (September 27) and involved a two-hour blockade at Serenity Resort and Residencesin Rawai. “It involved a Norwegian-Thai couple. This case has already been reported to Chalong police.”

He explained that a limousine came to pick up the couple from the resort. The limousine drove into the resort but when the driver tried to drive out again with the guests, the black taxi drivers blocked the way by pulling down the hotel’s security barrier.

The blockade leaders told the couple that they must use the black taxi service or nothing – that they would not be allowed out of the resort otherwise.

“The hotel staff and the victims tried to negotiate, but it was useless. It took about two hours until they could get out of the hotel. In this case we have a video recording as evidence.”

Pol Lt Col Somboon later showed The Phuket News screenshots of the black taxi drivers and the barrier, taken from the video.

A furious Vice-Governor Jamroen Thipphayapongtada ordered police to take care of the cases “very urgently”. He stressed that the police should impose the maximum fines in order to deter other black taxi drivers from “repeating the same pattern”.

“From now on the black taxi drivers must not be allowed to operate their business as they like. The Provincial government will issue an official announcement mandating the setting up of taxi ranks, as part of the enforcement of public peace and security in Phuket.

“Whoever wants to set up a taxi rank must be approved by the local district office and the police.

“Each operator will be assessed according to a code of conduct, which will be drawn up by the provincial government.”

V/Gov Jamroen assigned Provincial Land Transport Department (PLTD) officers and crime prevention officers to work together to prosecute all black taxi drivers.

“Provincial Land Transport officers and prevention officers – you must keep looking and catching them. Keep doing it. Don’t stop until I tell you, because if we don’t keep doing it constantly, then they will [continue to] resist us.”

Theerayut Prasertpol, the PLTD’s director, explained, “So far, 118 former black taxi drivers have been registered [as greenplate drivers] while another 200 are waiting for resolution of financial matters. Within three months we expect that we will be able to complete registration of about 70 to 80 per cent of the black taxis.”

Col Somboon said, “The DSI has worked with the PLTD to set up checkpoints to arrest black taxi drivers, and has already arrested some.

“We are now in the process of applying for more manpower [for the PLTD] to work with us this October.

“As for the black taxi drivers who made trouble at these two hotels, we have already issued summonses to them. We will also investigate to find the people behind all these black taxi drivers.

“We will follow the same procedure as we did in the Central [Festival Phuket] taxi case. The people behind them were arrested.

V/Gov Jamroen added, “I’m not going to let go of [the black taxis]. These cases drive me crazy.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/dsi-details-cases-of-black-taxi-gangsterism-42196.php


-- Phuket News 2013-10-03

[stevenl]

This has nothing to do with black or legal taxi drivers, but with the co-op system. Both black and legal are operating from the same taxi rank, and it are the taxi ranks that are causing the problems.

[steelepulse]

>>“As for the black taxi drivers who made trouble at these two hotels, we have already issued summonses to them. We will also investigate to find the people behind all these black taxi drivers.

Why weren't the police called and the culprits arrested? If the standoff took two hours at Serenity, surely some cops from Chalong could have made the journey in that time, even on foot for the 4 km distance!

Edit, what nice friendly looking fellows in this photo.

Edited October 3, 2013 by steelepulse

[uty6543]

Why would the black taxi drivers stop the way they operate no one has the balls to do anything to stop them.

[steelepulse]

BTW, isn't that gate Serenity's gate, or did they allow the taxi rank to set up their own gate? Trespassing, menace, and whatever other charges could easily be brought up against these scumbag lazy drivers.

[stevenl]

BTW, isn't that gate Serenity's gate, or did they allow the taxi rank to set up their own gate? Trespassing, menace, and whatever other charges could easily be brought up against these scumbag lazy drivers.

Yes, that is Serenity's gate, as also written in the OP: "the black taxi drivers blocked the way by pulling down the hotel’s security barrier"

[laurentbkk]

if even the police cannot do anything ... who will ? what a shame for a country so proud of the tourism and money it brings...

[steelepulse]

So why did the hotel allow these thugs to do this? Why not call the police and let the police appear they were doing their job for the DSI and arrest these guys for trespassing and being a menace?

[clockman]

Because the people who control this are protected, by somebody higher in the scam. T.I.T People that will never see the inside of a jail!

[LivinginKata]

Are we all surprised at this report ? I for sure am not. This sort of activity goes on just about every where here on 'Paradise Island'. I really hope this DSI mob clean it up, but money always talks here on Paradise Island.

[chub]

Here's how the 'solution' to the black taxi problem was reported one year ago.

"PHUKET: Illegal “black plate” taxi drivers have been given another four months – until February 28 next year (2013)– to register their vehicles for conversion to legal green plates, Vice-Governor Jamroen Tipayapongtada announced yesterday (October 18, 2012)" ...... Yesterday it was announced that 2,882 vehicles – minibuses and cars – have already been registered by their drivers for conversion. Officers have checked and have counted the illegal vehicles. All told there were 3,594 – 510 minibuses and 3,084 cars belonging to 186 groups around Phuket. Of these, 2,882 are already registered [for conversion to green plates].

Contrast that to today's announcement:

"Theerayut Prasertpol, the PLTD’s director, explained, “So far, 118 former black taxi drivers have been registered [as greenplate drivers] while another 200 are waiting for resolution of financial matters. Within three months we expect that we will be able to complete registration of about 70 to 80 per cent of the black taxis.”

So 318 black taxis will convert to green plates while the remainder of the 3,594 illegal taxis counted last year (plus the new black taxis that have come into operation since last year) will continue to operate illegally.

[chooka]

"simply ignoring the DSI cleanup campaign and are still threatening hotel guests and legal taxi drivers who have the nerve to invade their territory."

And why are they simply ignoring the DSI and business as usual? Might have something to with the fact that they know very well nothing is going to happen to them. They know very well they can slip the BIB 100 baht to bugger off. So they threaten a few hotel guests and it may be off the "Tourist Court" oooooh they are shaking in their boots at the thought of a 500 baht fine, can make that straight back with the next tourist.

They are laughing at the Judicial system and the justice system is cowering under the table from them.

[Paangjang]

Are we all surprised at this report ? I for sure am not. This sort of activity goes on just about every where here on 'Paradise Island'. I really hope this DSI mob clean it up, but money always talks here on Paradise Island.

Sorry LIK but in case you hadn't noticed, TV users have renamed Phuket "Island of hate & pain." Please from now on, refer to Phuket with this name...

Edited October 3, 2013 by Paangjang

[NamKangMan]

Are we all surprised at this report ? I for sure am not. This sort of activity goes on just about every where here on 'Paradise Island'. I really hope this DSI mob clean it up, but money always talks here on Paradise Island.

As stated in the past, only the Thai Army has the independence, and resources available to them, to clean up Planet Phuket of it's major tourism industry problems.

What a ridiculous situation.

[asdecas]

Call for micro-fixer Banharn. He said the floods would be fixed in seven days and.......er......

[Redhawk]

One have to imagine, you paid a nice holiday and wether the hotel nor the authorities are able to provide for free departure because some local thugs playing war, what kind of a joke for a so called high quality tourism destination! Thailand is loosing its credibility day by day!

[slapout]

If there are enough concerned locals who own/work legimite businesses, it would appear its time to take the town back from the thugs. With the Thai system as it operates a group wearing hoods could hot tar, feather and ride the culprits out of town on a rail. The route to the local law nonenforcement station could be blocked by symathizers as a live test of methods.

There is no one identified to charge, and if so they will have plenty of witnesses that can place them elsewhere. There are plenty of cases to reference a lack of evidence. You just have to address these thugs in a manner they understand. Then when the leader/money man of the thugs goes to their defense, give him/her a taste of the same.

[cacruden]

Why is it a fine. Some driver acts like this come immediately and impound the taxi for auction (proceeds used to compensate the business baracaded, and the remainder remitted back into general tax revenues). Take the driver and put them into a chain gang and have them do manual labour for a year.

[harrycallahan]

Trespass, imprisonment, extortion, threatening assault.

They gonna get a fine?

[eezergood]

Amazing Thailand!

[tomyumchai]

message to phuket, RE: local maffia.

FROM: anyone with any sense.

dear phuket, we are not coming anymore, seeya........not.

[Equalizer]

Here's how the 'solution' to the black taxi problem was reported one year ago.

"PHUKET: Illegal “black plate” taxi drivers have been given another four months – until February 28 next year (2013)– to register their vehicles for conversion to legal green plates, Vice-Governor Jamroen Tipayapongtada announced yesterday (October 18, 2012)" ...... Yesterday it was announced that 2,882 vehicles – minibuses and cars – have already been registered by their drivers for conversion. Officers have checked and have counted the illegal vehicles. All told there were 3,594 – 510 minibuses and 3,084 cars belonging to 186 groups around Phuket. Of these, 2,882 are already registered [for conversion to green plates].

Contrast that to today's announcement:

"Theerayut Prasertpol, the PLTD’s director, explained, “So far, 118 former black taxi drivers have been registered [as greenplate drivers] while another 200 are waiting for resolution of financial matters. Within three months we expect that we will be able to complete registration of about 70 to 80 per cent of the black taxis.”

So 318 black taxis will convert to green plates while the remainder of the 3,594 illegal taxis counted last year (plus the new black taxis that have come into operation since last year) will continue to operate illegally.

No there was 3594 Altogether, 2882 had already registered, this leaves 712 illegal. So if 318 convert now we are left with 394 from the figures given last year.

[Briggsy]

No wonder T.A.T. dropped Phuket from its 2014 promotional campaign. I mean, really, world-class tourism destination. It is like 1996 Cambodia or current-day Afghanistan with local villagers turning its highways into ad hoc turnpikes backed up with the real threat of violence to one's vehicle or person.

[LivinginKata]

Are we all surprised at this report ? I for sure am not. This sort of activity goes on just about every where here on 'Paradise Island'. I really hope this DSI mob clean it up, but money always talks here on Paradise Island.

Sorry LIK but in case you hadn't noticed, TV users have renamed Phuket "Island of hate & pain." Please from now on, refer to Phuket with this name...

Thought that I did not need to explain my sacasm. Paradise has been overtaken by greed.

[LivinLOS]

When an Australian brandishes a BB gun (now it would seem in self defense after being attacked) the police are there so fast, they arest him within a few 100m of the location while hes driving away..

Yet a standoff like this goes on for hours..

Priorities..

[jacko45k]

We need Eliot Ness and his team of 'Untouchables'......

Although will they be able to assemble as many as eleven incorruptibles in Thailand??????

[Equalizer]

Yes this is correct, i think the military police need to be assigned to Phuket in large numbers and completely take over the taxi and tourist situation. The civil police are just not police they are simply mafia in uniforms.

[gemini81]

You LET it happen you schmucks! If only you had some balls to manage the situation, rather than let the island go into the hands of mafia alone.

Write an article AFTER they actually do something instead of blowing hot air, and have actually accomplished something, instead of unnecessary journalism.

[InsideOut]

if even the police cannot do anything ... who will ? what a shame for a country so proud of the tourism and money it brings...

It is usually not Thailand who brags about how much money tourism brings, as it is not that much, it is usually some hurt foreigner who complains, that even though, he as a tourist usually buy many beers in the bars, and set up a beer bar business, and still Thailand had the guts to tell him to ... off, when he did something illegal...

Edited October 3, 2013 by LivinginKata
profanity removed

[NomadJoe]

Trespass, imprisonment, extortion, threatening assault.

They gonna get a fine?

Only a "summons" so far.