Foreign criminals exploiting police links: Thai editorial

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EDITORIAL
Foreign criminals exploiting police links
The Nation

Stronger action against corruption in law enforcement is needed to deal with cops who conspire with crime syndicates

BANGKOK: -- The sacking of Senior Sgt-Major Nonthapan Saengsuk, 37, by the head of the Tourist Police Division for allegedly helping two Russians commit a multimillion-baht scam should be a point of concern.

It could also be a sign of things to come.

Tourist Police chief Maj-General Apichai Theamart said a disciplinary probe had been launched against Nonthapan and his superiors. Nonthapan was arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima along with Russian suspects for allegedly conspiring to use fake credit and debit cards to withdraw more than Bt2.9 million from ATM machines around the provincial capital.

Police say the suspects had in their possession more than Bt2.9 million in cash they had allegedly withdrawn over the past week, as well as 328 counterfeit ATM cards.

A search of the Russians' hotel rooms in Bangkok allegedly then turned up another Bt1.5 million in cash, 31 more fake credit cards and evidence suggesting that Ivanoff had withdrawn about Bt65 million since his recent arrival in Thailand. A manhunt for their accomplices has been launched.

While the police have taken firm action to root out corruption in their ranks, the tough talk from a senior officer sounds all-too familiar. The sad reality is that public confidence in the police has been shaken by the experience of many such cases in the past.

First of all, the nature of the police sergeant major's dismissal suggests there is more to the story than just one non-commissioned officer "going rogue" to moonlight with criminals.

Apichai has promised an investigation to find out whether Nonthapan's superior was involved in the scam. But let's see how high up the ladder the police chief is willing to go in his quest to uncover the scale of this crime.

Foreign criminals exploiting loopholes in Thai law and weak points in our society is nothing new. But the idea of them teaming up with the very people who are supposed to enforce the law is a point of grave concern.

In private, Thai law-enforcement officers will talk all night about how foreign crime syndicates have taken over cities like Pattaya and Phuket. Any visitor strolling down the tourist strips will get ample evidence in the form of all sorts of offers and propositions.

But point a television camera at a police commander and he will deny outright that Pattaya, Phuket - or Bangkok for that matter - has any problem with foreign crime syndicates.

Recent evidence suggests otherwise. The latest credit-card scam comes hard on the heels of a similar operation uncovered in July, when Pattaya police arrested a Ukrainian man for allegedly masterminding a conspiracy that bagged Bt20 million. Seven foreigners - from Belarus, Iran and the Ukraine - were arrested in connection with that scam, along with two Thai men. Luckily, on that occasion, the two Thais weren't police officers.


-- The Nation 2013-11-22

[Bluespunk]

Ah, yes. Blame those pesky foreigners for all the BIB corruptness. After all they were squeaky clean before they all showed up with foreign criminal ways.

[jackr]

But let's see how high up the ladder the police chief is willing to go in his quest to uncover the scale of this crime

I think he'll find it goes all the way up to the very top, side-ways, backards, you name it!

[NongKhaiKid]

Foreign criminals exploit police links and of course decent, honest Thai criminals wouldn't do such a thing.

Wait a moment aren't all decent, honest Thai ciminals in the BIB anyway, or in politics ?

[whybother]

The Thai criminals are complaining because the foreign criminals are causing the rates to go up.

[selftaopath]

Business as usual in Land of Scams/Lack of Sanctions - LOS.

[noitom]

Thais are now aware that the foreigners have decoded the police payoff process. Thais have recruited the Thai press to publicize this and hopefully cull the foreigners out of the payoff, corruption, bribery schemes with police.

[Tatsujin]

The sacking of Senior Sgt-Major Nonthapan Saengsuk, 37, by the head of the Tourist Police Division for allegedly helping two Russians commit a multimillion-baht scam should be a point of concern. It could also be a sign of things to come.

One of countless instances. Nothing happens here without the tacit approval or involvement of the Police at some point, and they get their cut of it all. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, the list goes on and their fingers are in every pie at some level or another, along with their superiors.

[coma]

I eagerly await the results of this probe. Very exciting indeed. May I dare have a guess that nobody above the rank of SGT will get pinned ?

[yooper2001]

Russian Mafia owns Pattaya and every government official and down to every cop . Remember the biggest crooks wear brown uniforms.

If I were in charge I would fire 50% of the police force and replace them with Army recruits then send the other 50% to retraining for 8 weeks.

Then have a zero tolerance for taking any bribe from excepting a free beer to pocketing 1 bhat from helmet check. Thailand needs a Thai man to step up and be like J edgar Hoover to control the police. Thailand police forget that police are here to protect and to serve the public

[Somtamnication]

Gotta clean it from the top down, buddy.

[JoeThePoster]

exploiting police

What goes around, comes around.

[garyk]

This lack of communication between criminals is shocking.

[pitrevie]

Russian Mafia owns Pattaya and every government official and down to every cop . Remember the biggest crooks wear brown uniforms.

If I were in charge I would fire 50% of the police force and replace them with Army recruits then send the other 50% to retraining for 8 weeks.

Then have a zero tolerance for taking any bribe from excepting a free beer to pocketing 1 bhat from helmet check. Thailand needs a Thai man to step up and be like J edgar Hoover to control the police. Thailand police forget that police are here to protect and to serve the public

I hope the reference to Hoover was a joke.

[orchidlady]

The ATM scammers who recently arrested violated the labor laws. If they had had the four required Thais for each foreign worker (8 Thai police officers in this case)...they probably never would have been apprehended. The extras could have held the bank cards so they didn't drop to the ground resulting in the notification to the police.

[Katipo]

So what's of greater concern.... that there are foreign criminals, or that the police would work with them? On the other hand, it's not like the police haven't been involved with just about every sort of illegal going on in the country since forever.

[laurentbkk]

I guess if those people were paid with decent salary they wouldnt need to have "extra" but in a country where to be wealthy is THE way to be .... not easy everyday to remain honest ...

[jpeg]

The sacking of Senior Sgt-Major Nonthapan Saengsuk, 37, by the head of the Tourist Police Division for allegedly helping two Russians commit a multimillion-baht scam should be a point of concern. It could also be a sign of things to come.

One of countless instances. Nothing happens here without the tacit approval or involvement of the Police at some point, and they get their cut of it all. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, the list goes on and their fingers are in every pie at some level or another, along with their superiors.

Prostitution. you forgot prostitution.

[jpeg]

I guess if those people were paid with decent salary they wouldnt need to have "extra" but in a country where to be wealthy is THE way to be .... not easy everyday to remain honest ...

If those people hadn't been told 'we'll pay you bugger all but you can squeeze your fellow citizens dry' and paid them a decent salary then, with strict checks on their carrying out their duties honestly, yes, there may have been a chance. Too late now. Any increase in salary and sent off with 'now be good boys nah?' will just be seen as a bonus and they'll carry on with their rampant theft and flagrant disregard for law enforcement.

Stable door - locked -horse already bolted. Jail time, serious jail time is the only recourse now and will never happen here.

Edited November 22, 2013 by jpeg

[jpeg]

I eagerly await the results of this probe. Very exciting indeed. May I dare have a guess that nobody above the rank of SGT will get pinned ?

Dunno. I know of a Colonel who was kicked upstairs to ... Yala He'd been taking the piss for well over a decade, mind you ...

[silent]

Russian Mafia owns Pattaya and every government official and down to every cop . Remember the biggest crooks wear brown uniforms.

If I were in charge I would fire 50% of the police force and replace them with Army recruits then send the other 50% to retraining for 8 weeks.

Then have a zero tolerance for taking any bribe from excepting a free beer to pocketing 1 bhat from helmet check. Thailand needs a Thai man to step up and be like J edgar Hoover to control the police. Thailand police forget that police are here to protect and to serve the public

I hope the reference to Hoover was a joke.

Well it's half right, Some Thai ladyboys really do almost fool everybody.

[Ricardo]

The sacking of Senior Sgt-Major Nonthapan Saengsuk, 37, by the head of the Tourist Police Division for allegedly helping two Russians commit a multimillion-baht scam should be a point of concern. It could also be a sign of things to come.

One of countless instances. Nothing happens here without the tacit approval or involvement of the Police at some point, and they get their cut of it all. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, the list goes on and their fingers are in every pie at some level or another, along with their superiors.

Prostitution. you forgot prostitution.

is against the law here, so simply doesn't exist, surely ?

[gemini81]

Right, all of the sin, graft and rewards must be saved for the local guys; they need their fair slice of the pie, right??!! Haha. Always blaming others for their own ineptitude when it comes to law enforcement and doing their job. Thai 'Law enFARCEment'

[Lupatria]

While the police have taken firm action to root out corruption in their ranks,

I must have missed something here. Does this mean there are only three cops left in Bangkok's soi's to protect me, while the rest enjoy inactive posts?

[razer]

Corruption in the police and judicial system is what attracts criminals to Thailand. It is a win win situation on both sides.

[steve C]

But let's see how high up the ladder the police chief is willing to go in his quest to uncover the scale of this crime

I think he'll find it goes all the way up to the very top, side-ways, backards, you name it!

YES the fish stinks from the head down

[ggold]

The Thai criminals are complaining because the foreign criminals are causing the rates to go up.

wait until the chinese mafia get here as well! then there really will be fun and games between the Police, Russian, Chinese and Thai Mafia's

Edited November 22, 2013 by ggold

[thailandpeter2]

so, they did NOT employ enough police officers? really a very dumb oversight from these russians...

The ATM scammers who recently arrested violated the labor laws. If they had had the four required Thais for each foreign worker (8 Thai police officers in this case)...they probably never would have been apprehended. The extras could have held the bank cards so they didn't drop to the ground resulting in the notification to the police.

[semaritual]

Well foreign criominals and syndiactes work well together with thai syndicates and thai police: the most corrupt ONES here in Thailand!

So what can you expect from police? any help or confindence?? no not at all...so the best is to stay away from them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[whybother]

The Thai criminals are complaining because the foreign criminals are causing the rates to go up.

wait until the chinese mafia get here as well! then there really will be fun and games between the Police, Russian, Chinese and Thai Mafia's

I thought the chinese mafia were in government.