Phuket officers take down taxi drivers for intimidation

[Lite Beer]

Phuket officers take down taxi drivers for intimidation
Phuket Gazette -

The two drivers were arrested after intimidating an undercover police officer. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: A sting operation involving an undercover Patong Police officer disguised as a taxi driver put two men operating a hotel taxi queue behind bars yesterday.

Pamorn Maipuek, 40, and Narathid Wangaree, 27, were charged for threatening the plainclothes officer, who was attempting to pick up guests at Avista Hideway Resort and Spa at about 7pm.

“We had a team of officers on standby and had Lt Sakson Prakapsin pick up guests at the hotel without a ticket voucher – as we wanted to observe how the taxi drivers would react,” Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Paisarn Sangthep told the Phuket Gazette.

A hotel security guard stopped Lt Sakson’s car at the entrance of the hotel, so he could inform the hotel staff that the taxi had arrived.

“While Lt Sakson was waiting, Mr Pamorn and Mr Narathid approached him, checking for a ticket voucher,” Lt Col Paisarn said. “Because he didn’t have a ticket, the drivers told him that he couldn’t pick up guests at the hotel. They claimed to operate the taxi queue in that area.”

The drivers then started to threaten Lt Sakson.

“They said that if he tried to pick up any guests in the area without a voucher he would have a problem with them,” Col Paisarn said.

To prevent the situation from escalating further, a team of Patong Police officers rushed in and arrested both men.

The men were charged with section 309 of the Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a 60,000 baht fine or both.

The Department of Special Investigations launched a similar sting operation in November (story here).

In that operation, a taxi driver tried to force a DSI officer out of his vehicle, but no arrest was made. However, Somboon Sarasit, head of the DSI’s Bureau of Special Crime Unit 3, believes enough evidence was gathered to gain approval from Bangkok to add the case to the DSI investigation list.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-officers-take-down-taxi-drivers-for-intimidation-23131.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-30

[eezergood]

Actually something well done here

[1ma]

Brilliant.

The men were charged with section 309 of the Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a 60,000 baht fine or both

Both please.

[LivinginKata]

Well done - let's hope this continues.

[NamKangMan]

Good to hear of some arrests. I hope the word gets out to the other taxi criminals.

Now send in other plainclothes polce to every other resort, rand egularly.

Clean the industry up.

[NomadJoe]

^

And there are dozens of other resorts where the taxi mafia act the same. All through Kata and Karon they have hand painted the word "taxi tuk tuk" on the ground on several parking spaces. If someone parks there, they get told to move under no uncertain terms.

[Jimi007]

There has been so much talk and so little action from the DSI that was suppose to tackle this issue, that most of us thought that an actual sting operation and arrest would never happen. In this case the DSI wasn't even involved it seems. Let us hope this is the first of many of these undercover operations to clean up these much despised taxi "mafia" or taxi cartels, whatever you want to call them. At least two of these scumbags are off the street for a short time.

[Costas2008]

Yes, Well done with the Police.

What worries me is for how long will they carry on with their efforts?

Or is done today......forgotten tomorrow?

Usual BIB and Thai attitude.

[LivinginKata]

Yes, Well done with the Police.

What worries me is for how long will they carry on with their efforts?

Or is done today......forgotten tomorrow?

Usual BIB and Thai attitude.

Yes, that is the problem. Done today ... forget about tomorrow

[scorecard]

What is a 'ticket voucher'?

Who / what authority issues it?

Can anybody please share how this works.

Thanks.

[Alwyn]

A few years ago my daughter and boyfriend were in Phuket on part of a holiday. I went to collect them from their hotel and got blocked by taxi drivers. I told them I was picking up my daughter and they told me I could not - she had to take a taxi.... So I parked outside and walked in to gather them up. I spoke with hotel security who didn't want to know. We got to my car and the <deleted> blocked us in, it was unbelievable. Took a phone call to sort it out but if I hadn't of known people with a bit of clout it could have turned nasty. These scum are lower than whale sh**

[steelepulse]

Good news. Let's hope this keeps up.

[FireMedic]

The headline is a little deceiving as usual per English media. Arresting 2 thuggy drivers and calling it a "Take Down" of intimidating taxi drives is a stretch at best. That would be like saying there is another famous "Crackdown" of ladyboys and 2 old, ugly, beaters are paraded for the media. What about the other 1,000 that are lurking around and ripping everyone off? Why doesn't any ask what they plan to do about the other taxi queues? Why don't all the hotel owners get together and make a statement for the media about how the taxi mafia is bad for business? And then do it again every week until it's fixed! Everyone knows you can't expect the local police to do much, but if it keeps going to the media every week, they will be shamed into action. Post Youtube videos of them lurking outside. Have their tough guy antics on video and post it for everyone to see.

If everyone posted videos to YouTube of taxi mafia, tuk tuk mafia, or police corruption and then the media actually did their job and confronted local officals, this would stop sooner rather than later. The golden age of social media is upon us. Everyone just needs to use it effectively.We should have a YouTube channel titled "People Against Phuket Corruption" and upload as soon as they take a video. Thais have no problem what so ever posting pictures of dead and mangled farangs on their personal Facebook pages for everyone to see.

I am dying to see what happens after the 1st and the tuk tuks on beach road. This is gonna be a riot to watch.

[NamKangMan]

The headline is a little deceiving as usual per English media. Arresting 2 thuggy drivers and calling it a "Take Down" of intimidating taxi drives is a stretch at best. That would be like saying there is another famous "Crackdown" of ladyboys and 2 old, ugly, beaters are paraded for the media. What about the other 1,000 that are lurking around and ripping everyone off? Why doesn't any ask what they plan to do about the other taxi queues? Why don't all the hotel owners get together and make a statement for the media about how the taxi mafia is bad for business? And then do it again every week until it's fixed! Everyone knows you can't expect the local police to do much, but if it keeps going to the media every week, they will be shamed into action. Post Youtube videos of them lurking outside. Have their tough guy antics on video and post it for everyone to see.

If everyone posted videos to YouTube of taxi mafia, tuk tuk mafia, or police corruption and then the media actually did their job and confronted local officals, this would stop sooner rather than later. The golden age of social media is upon us. Everyone just needs to use it effectively.We should have a YouTube channel titled "People Against Phuket Corruption" and upload as soon as they take a video. Thais have no problem what so ever posting pictures of dead and mangled farangs on their personal Facebook pages for everyone to see.

I am dying to see what happens after the 1st and the tuk tuks on beach road. This is gonna be a riot to watch.

There are many You Tube clips, and even websites, about the "issues" on Phuket. It's already out there for the world to see. The honorary consul's mention it every year, along with the jet skis, and other issues. Nothing changes.

The Thai officials answer to this bad publicity that is having a big effect on the traditional western tourist numbers here is to fill the void with cheap package holiday makers from emerging economies.

They don't care who these guys rip off - as long as there are still people coming here to be ripped off, and the corrupt payments keep flowing.

However, these package holiday makers have coach buses organised for their transportation, so, that leaves these guys hanging around out the front of hotels and resorts feeling the pinch somewhat, and becoming more and more ruthless for their next baht.

I expect this to get worse in the future, or prices to rise, yet again, to make up for the lost revenue.

Edited December 30, 2013 by NamKangMan

[belg]

2 down, 1998 to go

[Elfin]

The men were charged with section 309 of the Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a 60,000 baht fine or both.

Interesting that if you bash a farang, it is a slap on the wrist and a 500 baht fine!

[peecee]

Well done - let's hope this continues.

Yes; I second that. The Thai police are by no means all corrupt, my brother-in-law is a hard working station commander who really puts the hours in and hardly sees his family.

[bangarang]

Lets keep this up! How is the promised parking spaces along the beach road coming along?

[12DrinkMore]

The men were charged with section 309 of the Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a 60,000 baht fine or both.

Interesting that if you bash a farang, it is a slap on the wrist and a 500 baht fine!

Or use a knife.

Strange.

I guess the difference is that they threatened a BIB rather than paying one.

[Travel Dude]

Well done - let's hope this continues.

Yes; I second that. The Thai police are by no means all corrupt, my brother-in-law is a hard working station commander who really puts the hours in and hardly sees his family.

That a good thing and your brother in law should be commended for his great wprking attitude.

As he is the station commander does that also mean that none of the officers under his command are corrupt? That would be fantastic great news!

[Chicken George]

You won't see me in Phuket. I used to go 3 times a year.. too many problems. Not been for 5years now. Long long way to go to sort things.

[NamKangMan]

You won't see me in Phuket. I used to go 3 times a year.. too many problems. Not been for 5years now. Long long way to go to sort things.

"Long long way to go to sort things." - it may never be sorted out.

Where do you go now?

[unanimosity]

Actually something well done here

Either that, or just another mouth to feed on the food chain.

[godden]

string, blindfold, post, spings to mind

[Wavnarok]

Well done - let's hope this continues.

Yes; I second that. The Thai police are by no means all corrupt, my brother-in-law is a hard working station commander who really puts the hours in and hardly sees his family.

That a good thing and your brother in law should be commended for his great wprking attitude.

As he is the station commander does that also mean that none of the officers under his command are corrupt? That would be fantastic great news!

Of course they wont be corrupt.....even when they are alone with possibilities to put money in their pocket they will think : Oh no that i have a commander that really works hard .

Edited December 30, 2013 by Wavnarok

[Seelow]

You won't see me in Phuket. I used to go 3 times a year.. too many problems. Not been for 5years now. Long long way to go to sort things.

Same as myself, except it's been four years since we visited Phuket, having been regular visitors for many years.

Andre asks what are the problems which seems a rather naive question at best but you can start with the prices, the attitude and the lack of usable public transport. Not everyone, including my wife and I, want to ride a motorbike.

Vietnam is now our holiday destination of choice with the added benefit of being one hour less flying time than to Phuket.

[Briggsy]

Phuket and its naughty taxi drivers - the story that never stops giving. There's a new yet old angle every week. I am from the North West of England. There must be more taxis throughout the region than in the province of Phuket. Yet I don't recall seeing any stories on taxis and their drivers or the licencing or registration system. Maybe they just haven't figured out how to get themselves in the news like the Phuket drivers, masters of PR that they are.

[NamKangMan]

Phuket and its naughty taxi drivers - the story that never stops giving. There's a new yet old angle every week. I am from the North West of England. There must be more taxis throughout the region than in the province of Phuket. Yet I don't recall seeing any stories on taxis and their drivers or the licencing or registration system. Maybe they just haven't figured out how to get themselves in the news like the Phuket drivers, masters of PR that they are.

"Phuket and its naughty taxi drivers - the story that never stops giving." - they certainly are "giving" many of Phuket's tourists to other holiday destinations in the region. :)

[LivinginKata]

Off topic post removed.

[ppmacready]

Well done - let's hope this continues.

Thailand is the ''hub'' of token gestures!