DSI officer goes undercover to catch misbehaving Phuket taxi drivers

[webfact]

DSI officer goes undercover to catch misbehaving Phuket taxi drivers
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan


Merlin Beach Resort at Tri Trang Beach. Photo: Google street view

PHUKET: -- A Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officer posed recently as a taxi driver and went down to the Merlin Beach Resort at Tri Trang Beach, the focus of complaints recently about taxi drivers misbehaving.

The DSI laid their trap meticulously, employing a foreigner to act as the “taxi driver’s” customer.

The DSI does not automatically take on any case of wrongdoing reported to them – that, they argue – is initially the job of local police.

However, if they feel that a case does merit their full attention, they must gather enough evidence to convince a DSI committee that the case must be declared “special”, allowing them to take further action.

Pol Lt Col Preecha Meejaidee, deputy chief of the Bureau of Special Crime Section 3, who led a team of six DIS officials for the mission, told The Phuket News, “We are going to take on the case of the taxis in front of Merlin Beach Resort, Tri Trang. We went there to see how the taxi drivers would react.

“On November 20, we pretended to be a tourist car driver to pick up a foreign man who knows the role play at the resort.

“They threatened a DSI man who was doing the role play as a taxi driver to leave, and pulled the tourist’s arm to not let him get into our car. They also threatened the tourist to choose their service instead.”

On Tuesday (November 26), Pol Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, the commander of the Bureau of Special Crime Section 3 told The Phuket News, “On December 2, we will submit this case to DSI’s committee, with the aim of having them declare this a special investigation.”

“Our role now is to arrest and to put pressure on misbehaving taxi drivers to get them to follow the regulations of the Phuket Provincial Government. We are serious about this mission.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/dsi-officer-goes-undercover-to-catch-misbehaving-phuket-taxi-drivers-43131.php


-- Phuket News 2013-11-29

[steelepulse]

Let's get some cameras rolling on these incidents and the thugs that are behind it.

[eezergood]

Go undercover - take a drive with me each night on the way home, they will be agog with the crimes that are broken

[meatboy]

can you imagine the undercover agent making himself known.

agent to taxi driver i am a dsi officer

taxi driver i know it say's so on the back of your jacket.

[kingalfred]

If the corrupt police in phuket did their job the problems would be solved.But then again they wouldnt be corrupt and could and maybe worthy of Law enforcement,if such a term exists in Thailand.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[alfalfa19]

This is a constructive step forward, I feel. That is what it takes to assess and eventually change the abomination known as phuket transport. However, I think it will only work this one time. The taxi drivers will be expecting this tactic from now on.

[andreandre]

Set up a minor sting op to observe some taxi chumps doing what everyone else knows they do..

This is the best the DSI [ the promised saviours of Phuket ] can come up with??? The most junior BIB could do such a mission...

[NomadJoe]

Set up a minor sting op to observe some taxi chumps doing what everyone else knows they do..

This is the best the DSI [ the promised saviours of Phuket ] can come up with??? The most junior BIB could do such a mission...

The local BIB's are very likely to be part owners in the taxi business. Even if not, they make money from it. They call it payment for "good governance" now.

Thailand is a small country and there aren't that many layers to the top, and the connections the taxi groups have go to high up.This is why they even the DSI can get nowhere.

Edited November 29, 2013 by NomadJoe

[SimonF]

This again..........

[Johnnie99]

What you negative commenters seem to forget is that Thailand is a developing country. The systems and regulations are in place but as you clueless lot should realise is that it takes time to change the thinking of people.

Do we forget so easily the early days of lawless America? The days when the states of Europe were not incorporated, and were equally lawless?

Do you seriously think that the 'developed' countries of the world appeared fully formed and functioning?

Thank you.

Edited November 29, 2013 by Rimmer
reported Troll phrase removed

[SOTIRIOS]

...like the regulars won't know something is up.....very lame...

[smileydude]

Okay so they now have first hand evidence . I'm interested to see how they will deal with catching the big fish behind these scams because most of the phuyai (big wigs) all know each other well.

Catching the little fish as scapegoats is futile unless you bag the big ones who are often (not surprisingly) people of influence and color (police, army etc.)

My skepticism tends to get the better of me when it involves the police. I hope they are really serious at tackling this nationally embarrassing situation and not just doing some PR stint to appease the Minister of Tourism.

Edited November 29, 2013 by smileydude

[Bagwan]

So what is the latest on the Mayor and his son? Has it all been swept under the carpet.

[disagree]

Maybe this is the way to announce that they want a cut of the profits, so the committee doesn't approve the investigation?

Edited November 29, 2013 by disagree

[Rimmer]

One reported post has been edited and the quoted replies to it removed

[NamKangMan]

What you negative commenters seem to forget is that Thailand is a developing country. The systems and regulations are in place but as you clueless lot should realise is that it takes time to change the thinking of people.

Do we forget so easily the early days of lawless America? The days when the states of Europe were not incorporated, and were equally lawless?

Do you seriously think that the 'developed' countries of the world appeared fully formed and functioning?

Thank you.

It would appear, every other tourist destination in Thailand has "developed" a lot faster than Phuket has.

[Mudcrab]

Make a work permit as an undercover tourist available to the expats. The court system would be overloaded pretty quickly methinks!!

[Halion]

This is about the level that Tarit and his bunch of keystone cops can aspire too. Going after taxi drivers in Phuket which is the jurisdiction of the Phuket police.

Felonious government officials, Buddhist monks with bank accounts and luxury cars, Ferrari drivers, corrupt police officers and the myriad of hi-so privileged crooks are well beyond his pathetic capabilities.

The man and his department are simply a buffer for the privileged and a total disgrace to the service of this nation.

Yes indeed , do down to Phuket and nail a few taxi drivers ,however this also may well be beyond your abilities.

[Ulic]

Words words words, delay, words words words, PR stunt, words words, delay, words words, delay.

Has the problem (BAD PRESS) gone yet. Repeat and necessary.............