Dive shops gather to solve police bribery problem

[Lite Beer]

Dive shops gather to solve police bribery problem
Anthika Muangrod

PHUKET: Over 100 people attended a discussion on how dive shops can curtail the threat of bribes to local police, an on-going problem in Phuket that has caught the attention of the Association of Thailand Underwater Sports (ATUS)

Led by ATUS President Mr Ronnachai Jindapon, Saturday evening's (March 22) meeting brought together several diving businesses on the island while some shared their stories of police corruption despite proper paperwork.

"We know that the problem is happening but it seems that only a few people reported itto us. I want [businesses] to inform the ATUS so that we can know what's happening and help them solve the problem.

"We have been cooperating with the Phuket Provincial Vice Commissioner. He acknowledged what happened, but still, we need evidence to prove that the story they tell is true."

A victim of police bribery told The Phuket News: “We specialise in technical diving and we have a business, a TAT license, we have TAT registration, work permit, everything is in order. But still the police came to our shop and asked us to go to the police station at the back of Chalong police station. They said pay B20,000 and you’re free to go. And we paid because we’re just afraid.”

There are many more frustrated victims who raised their hands at the meeting and told their stories.

ATUS encourage dive companies and individuals who were harassed to write down their problems with the corruption. The associations said these documents will be brought to the vice commissioner to consider and help solve the police problem.

Mr Ronnachai revealed that a police taskforce has been setup and will visit the victims to point out which officers went to their shops and asked for big money. But the companies have to be strong enough to make thing right., he said, and not be afraid to point out who are those police.

"If we can make one cop afraid of this, the rest of them will also be afraid to rip us off. I contacted the vice commissioner of Phuket and he wants to know if you all could recognize the officer's [who asked for bribes] faces and point them out."

He also added that the diving companies have to make sure that they are doing everything legally because the ATUS does not know who specifically has a work permit. Since these permits are the responsibility of the business, the ATUS will not help if police catch people working without one.

"It’s now become a problem whether it is correct or not for foreigners to be diving as it’s not stated in the working permit. We will contact the governor to discuss making the working permit completely clear for everybody."

Mr Pongsawan Sathatam, ATUS' legal counsel, revealed that there is going to be a discussion between the association and the Labour Office to clarify in the work permits if divers can work legally outside the office.

“Usually Labor Office will not state too many words in work permit. I think police can understand this if they want, but I think in many cases, they just want some advantage from these people.

Mr Ronnachai suggested that the diving companies register to become members of ATUS so that it will be easier for the association to look after them. In many cases, businesses don’t want to pay to be a member but when they have problem, they still ask for the association's help.

The ATUS will also reach out to the governor, Phuket Department of Employent and local police on what steps to take to solve the problem, in addition to clarifying the work permit, Mr Pongsawan added.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/dive-shops-gather-to-solve-police-bribery-problem-45311.php

-- Phuket News 2014-03-23

[harrycallahan]

I can think of a sure way to find out who's corrupt, but it doesn't involve newspaper articles until they've been caught.

[clockman]

Dangerous action! T.I.T.

[LivinginKata]

Gutsy action. Hope there is no backlash.

[espinoza]

What the f... has the governor in Phuket to do with the work permits ? Don`t Thailand have laws ? It`s time to bring harsh laws to work to tackle police-corruption. Maybe the Chinese model could be implemented in the Phuket region as a test.

[falkan]

video video video..=)

[MaiChai]

Thai police motto should be: Empowered to extort!

[Somtamnication]

Wish the Koreans would do this. They pay upwards of 80k per month. 5 "cops" arrive in a minivan, all representing a different agency, stop by all the tour companies and get money.

This is truly a cancer in Thailand.

[stevenl]

Wish the Koreans would do this. They pay upwards of 80k per month. 5 "cops" arrive in a minivan, all representing a different agency, stop by all the tour companies and get money.

This is truly a cancer in Thailand.

Well, the main problem is quite a few of those shops are operating illegally without business license, tourism license, workpermits, etc.

IMO they should simply close those shops in stead of accepting payments though.

[virtualtraveller]

Anywhere there is good money being made off flush tourists the police are going to want some of it. If there's any rules involved they were use them to extort. For bars it's late night opening, booze licences and girls, for divers its work permits and TAT licences. If the guys are willing to pay 20,000 to avoid the hassle they can probably afford it, thus starts the slippery slope.

[eezergood]

Yet another, unfortunate, act in rable rousing and posturing.....

The status quo will be back before you know it

Edited March 24, 2014 by eezergood

[Borzandy]

Thailand the hub of police bribery problem

[oldsailor35]

Anyone summoned to police HQ should find a way to carry a concealed video camera. This is what i would be doing. Otherwise it will just be his word against yours.

[NamKangMan]

Thailand the hub of police bribery problem

"Thailand the hub of police bribery problem"........ and Phuket the hub of the hub.

[NamKangMan]

"Over 100 people attended a discussion on how dive shops can curtail the threat of bribes to local police" - perhaps "over 100 people" is enough for a blockade.

[godden]

pissing against the wind, i think.

[realenglish1]

This is a real easy solution Set up a Task force with a telephone number maned by an officer the Governor can trust. Then when someone is hauled into the police station they call and this guy comes down and resolves this problem. Presto No money and the threat of prosecution if this behavior continues. Maybe you can find holes in it but they if you don't do something direct it will continue

[evadgib]

video video video..=)

THB 20k will buy CCTV in offices, 2 way dashcams in company vehicles & cameras for boats.

Perpetrators can expect an inactive post without collecting GBP 200:)

Edited March 24, 2014 by evadgib

[eezergood]

Joe nothing here buddy???

[Halion]

Nothing new or even enlightening in this story.

Owing to the cancerous corruption that is seeded and accepted in the very culture of this society it is to be expected that an uneducated, undisciplined and unsupervised force given a badge and a gun will milk it for all it is worth.

To the Thai mentality such thing are simply denied and as such that makes them untrue.

[Chupup]

This is a real easy solution Set up a Task force with a telephone number maned by an officer the Governor can trust. Then when someone is hauled into the police station they call and this guy comes down and resolves this problem. Presto No money and the threat of prosecution if this behavior continues. Maybe you can find holes in it but they if you don't do something direct it will continue

A telephone number manned by an officer the govenor canTRUST, yea right

[Pops]

Beautiful, to divert the attention from the problem of corrupt crooked cops to work permits.

Work permit in order or not in order is another issue.

The dive shops come to ATUS to point out, that they have to pay money "under table" to corrupt cops, to either operate or operate illegally.

That's the issue, not the f…ing work permits.

[Benmart]

A sting operation with marked bills, undercover agents, video and lots of publicity showing the cops caught would do wonders. Followup the trials and sentencing with lots of TV and media coverage.

Get the rotten cops out, show the others the consequence of dishonesty and let the public know whats happening. It just may spread.

[stevenl]

Beautiful, to divert the attention from the problem of corrupt crooked cops to work permits.

Work permit in order or not in order is another issue.

The dive shops come to ATUS to point out, that they have to pay money "under table" to corrupt cops, to either operate or operate illegally.

That's the issue, not the f…ing work permits.

Pay money to operate illegally, not to operate.

Yes, there has been a problem lately with 'police' fining people for working at the wrong place. The biggest problem though is people working without workpermits, people having set up companies with fake nominees, not employing the number of Thais required for the workpermit, not having the money invested as required, employing activities not allowed, etc.

The industry should look at itself first before pointing at injustices committed by others.

Edited March 24, 2014 by stevenl

[Ulic]

100 people complaining about extortion is not proof of extortion. Maybe there is maybe not.

We will open up an investigation waste time delay until things quiet down a bit.

[simon43]

...maned by an officer the Governor can trust...

I can see one or two problems with your wonderful plan.....

Simon

[Emster23]

"This is a real easy solution Set up a Task force with a telephone number maned by an officer the Governor can trust." Forgot to add element of "honest". You can trust Thai police to shake you down as much as they can. Maybe gov could "trust" officer to bring back a cut of the take?

[Tchooptip]

Thailand the hub of police bribery problem

Most thanks for this invaluable information, it will certainly help many of us in the future, thanks again!

[ppmacready]

A sting operation with marked bills, undercover agents, video and lots of publicity showing the cops caught would do wonders. Followup the trials and sentencing with lots of TV and media coverage.

Get the rotten cops out, show the others the consequence of dishonesty and let the public know whats happening. It just may spread.

I can see the headlines now.

Anarchy in Phuket due to no police left!

[sailblue]

What a joke, Help us catch the bad cop, you have to point at him, the guy over there with the gun giving me the " YOU ARE DEAD LOOK"

This is there way to end complaints, just pay up cause I get a share as well.

Like the bars, why do they not all go to someone as a group, they want to stay in business, and stay open late.

As the guy said the work permits are vague, that is the way they want them so it become a discretion scenario.