73 taxi drivers arrested in Phuket anti-mafia drive

[mok199]

i truley beleive the taxi drivers to be the worst of the worst,as they have the oportunty to abuse a tourist imediatly upon arrival to thailand ,and the final day before a tourist returns to thier home country......,i know ,of all my bad experiences here(,and i have had many),it was always the taxi that really really really pissed me off....''whats the diference between a mud shark and a taxi driver???....one is bottom feeding scum sucker....the other one is a fish......

[BradinAsia]

“From now on, the police will not let this happen. No police officer will be transferred and anyone who blocks roads will be prosecuted,” he said.

It's about freaking time.

“Our problem is the local authorities are not strong enough to enforce the law seriously.”

Hard to believe they actually admit this in a press release. Perhaps there is hope.

One of the major advantages of a military coup which gives complete authority and dictatorial powers to the Army chief --

​he does not have to pussy-foot, placate, or pretend. He is able to make decisions, take decisive, ​corrective measures and

not be overly concerned with who may not like it. What other government leader is able to operate so effectively?

​Years ago, a very wise man once told me, "The best possible form of government is a benevolent dictatorship."

I very much agree, but with one caveat: If the dictator dies or stops being benevolent, what happens then?

Edited June 5, 2014 by BradinAsia

[watcharacters]

Why waste the time and effort?

Nothing will change!

[empireboy]

Music to my ears!

[MissingThailand]

Hope it ends well, but i fear that it is just a change in the puppet masters and who will be collecting the tea money.

[sandhurstmolonski]

Sincere Congratulations to All involved , wonderful News .

And have I read correctly that we haven't even got to Patong Yet ? Great to see some serious law enforcement .

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

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I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

You really do deserve to be ridiculed. Just when it looked as though you may be making a good point you go and spoil it with your last sentence and your recurring lack of reading ability or refusal to give credit where it is due. One third of the operation was the RTP.

With respect, his point was correct.

Prior to the Army taking over and running/heading/leading/initiating all of these operations, very little was done. Since the Coup, and since the transfer of so many Police "leaders" (mafia), their protection has gone and the Army is also looking over their shoulders to see that they do their jobs properly.

1/3rd of them might be RTP, but 2/3rd's are not . . . that's a kind of telling point. I wouldn't give the RTP credit (as a whole) for a damn thing other than covering up or colluding with or running a large part of the illegal activities that go on here in Thailand on a daily basis.

On an individual basis, I'd give massive credit to some wonderful Police individuals I've seen, met or read about over the years, but as a group, as a whole, the RTP are a total and utter disgrace to themselves and this country and its people.

Spoke with a friend of mine that managers a pub on Sukhumvit 11 in Bkk. He tells me that the bars are no longer payng any tea money to the police. Another friend of mine that is married to a Thai girl whose father is one of the top DSI guys, has had his banks accounts seized and is under investigation.

Anyone that has been living here for any length of time know that the police are the root of all things rotten in this country. Children go missing, are raped and murdered and they still can't be bothered to get of their lazy a$$es and do their jobs. We can all name a hundred cases of this.

The ONLY reason that they are doing anything now is because the military is forcing them to do it!!

Hopefully the good cops will rise to the top and the rest of the vermin will be behind bars where they belong. Good job Prayuth, keep it up.

[BudRight]

YEAH!!! Take that &lt;deleted&gt;!!!!!!!

[kinook]

Kata Noi???

[Rimbuman]

“From now on, the police will not let this happen. No police officer will be transferred and anyone who blocks roads will be prosecuted,” he said.

It's about freaking time.

“Our problem is the local authorities are not strong enough to enforce the law seriously.”

Hard to believe they actually admit this in a press release. Perhaps there is hope.

One of the major advantages of a military coup which gives complete authority and dictatorial powers to the Army chief --

​he does not have to pussy-foot, placate, or pretend. He is able to make decisions, take decisive, ​corrective measures and

not be overly concerned with who may not like it. What other government leader is able to operate so effectively?

​Years ago, a very wise man once told me, "The best possible form of government is a benevolent dictatorship."

I very much agree, but with one caveat: If the dictator dies or stops being benevolent, what happens then?

How does Singapore do it? The people of Singapore seem to be content in general, every country has it ways to work things out.

Seems like Thailand is on the right track.

What a relieve and refreshment at this moment, if this follows through Thailand will regain its image it lost many years ago.

Way to go

[merry skipper]

Why waste the time and effort?

Nothing will change!

yes skepticism is well warranted. if there is a change it is usually just a brief temporary phenomenon and back to status quo very soon after.

[phuketrichard]

Indeed this is good news. Any clampdown on that load of vermin is good for Phuket in the long run.

Great move on the Armies part!!!

double thumbs up,

just hope they don't allow it to slide back

Big $$ at stack

[sandhurstmolonski]

Motor Bike Taxi , from Phuket Bus terminal to Patong ..

" Ohhhh , much more long way than I'm thinking ..Which way I go "?

Sure Mate , give you 10 barht and take me to the bus stop . Often often inconvenient to aviod these guys , but the whole system id flawed on the Island , Tuk Tuk , motor bike , registered Taxi , unregistered taxi , so this really is just scaping the surface .

Still at least its a Start , but this would take some massive changes to Clean up .

I must say the " Rip Off ..least " to get to Golf , where the unregistered guys with a 1/2 decent car , but still Crazy fee .

Next time in Phuket , will still follow the " avoidance " rule .

[BestBitterPhuket]

Fantastic news! Thailand is moving in the right direction after the coup.

But what will happen next to the criminal taxi drivers? Just a 1000 bht fine or will the go to jail and lose their cars? String and harsh punishment needs to be meted out.

[eezergood]

How many crackdowns have we had??? how long do they last???

You generate negative vibes, be positive man.

Let's see how far they go, I have Some hope

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NamKangMan]

I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

You really do deserve to be ridiculed. Just when it looked as though you may be making a good point you go and spoil it with your last sentence and your recurring lack of reading ability or refusal to give credit where it is due. One third of the operation was the RTP.

The RTP had to take part in the operation because the Thai Army were making sure they were doing their job. It's not rocket science.

This problem has been here for years, and the RTP has never done a thing about it.

[NamKangMan]

Now for the hard part, setting up a public transportation system on the island. The only way that was going to happen was if the Army was in charge. Now is the time.

Perhaps the locals, expats and tourists will line the coast road, cheering on the Thai Army, as the first Phuket baht bus starts operating.

Scenes reminiscent of the celebrations following the liberation of Paris in World War 2.

[slipperx]

Some people are negative about the ability for Thailand to reduce corruption but corruption is based on a lack of fear of being caught and being punished. Take away the lack of fear for criminals and punish them properly and suddenly people start to look behind their shoulder. Rather like a stock market that has been rising for four solid years when every little dip excites the buyers greedy for more until BANG the whole thing blows up. As the psychology of the stock market so the psychology of criminals and corruption.

A few big punches in the face can lead to a sea change in perception which in turn can lead to massive change. I hope the military continue to smash a much of the corrupt practices in this country apart as is possible to make the sea change in perception come about. But then hope springs eternal

[webfact]

UPDATE:

91 taxi drivers to appear in Phuket court
Tanyaluk Sakoot


'I believe we will get all of them soon': Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin.

PHUKET: -- Following the massive sweep yesterday to round up “mafia” taxi drivers and other involved in the taxi industry, 91 people will appear in the Phuket Provincial Court today (June 5) when police apply for their stay in the cells to be extended.

Seventy-three taxi drivers were arrested yesterday, along with the Mayor of Karon, Thawee Thongcham.

Another 18 have since surrendered to police to answer charges that they had threatened businesses, extorted money from tour company drivers and threatened them with weapons such as pieces of wood or guns, blocked hotel entrances, and forced tourists to get out of minibuses that arrived at hotels to collect them for tours.

Mr Thawee surrendered yesterday to answer charges of supporting mafia taxi activities in the Karon area, abusing his position to allow these mafia men to use a public sala as a taxi station, and allowing them to use, free, electricity and water that are paid for from national coffers.

A total of 111 arrest warrants were issued, involving 108 people. So another 17 have yet to be arrested or to surrender.

Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, Deputy Commissioner of Police Region 8 in Surat Thani, who was one of the organisers of the mass round-up and the months-long investigation that preceded it, told The Phuket News, “Ninety-one people will appear in court today, and more are expected to surrender to us today.

“I believe we will get them all soon.

“Everyone has the right to request bail [at today’s hearing],” he noted, though it is expected that police will apply to the judge to keep them in custody until all have been thoroughly questioned.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/91-taxi-drivers-to-appear-in-phuket-court-46670.php


-- Phuket News 2014-06-05

[oldsailor35]

Now for the hard part, setting up a public transportation system on the island. The only way that was going to happen was if the Army was in charge. Now is the time.

I agree with you. The army need to appoint a top officer to oversee everything that is happening in the Phuket taxi industry, because the corrupt scum will just move the goal posts to suit themselves. With military control all these old bad corrupt habits will be destroyed once and for all. Jail anybody that tries to go against this reform.

[oldsailor35]

Make all jet ski operators hand in their licences and re apply to do business. Do not let either the police or the city council have the final say in anything concerning them until the army officer in charge had given them the ok to proceed. Be tough on any offenders, convescate their equipment if they offend. No second chances.

[kieran2698]

I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

If you read the article you will see that it was the mayor who was rotten, not the police who were transferred by the mayor if they tried to interfere. Mayors are very powerful in Thailand but this one should be getting a very long stretch.

[NeilSA1]

“More than a thousand police officers, soldiers and local authority officials have been working on this.

“The plan was launched on January 30 this year; we have spent about three months now working on this problem.”

So credit is not just to be associated with the Thai Military Junta.

It seems they have spent more than 4 months 'working on this'. How much more time would they have spent 'working on this' before taking action, if at all, without the kind 'encouragement' and 'assistance' of the military?

Well done, and good luck Thailand.

.

[spermwhale]

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I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

If you read the article you will see that it was the mayor who was rotten, not the police who were transferred by the mayor if they tried to interfere. Mayors are very powerful in Thailand but this one should be getting a very long stretch.

That's right. This is not a national political issue and that Mayor was surely part of the problem as he let the crime continue. And I've always been amazed that it hadn't been cleaned up since tourism is such an important part of Thailand's economy.

[NeilSA1]

I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

You really do deserve to be ridiculed. Just when it looked as though you may be making a good point you go and spoil it with your last sentence and your recurring lack of reading ability or refusal to give credit where it is due. One third of the operation was the RTP.

Correct, one third of the operation was the RTP, ....however this was initiated by, and under the direction of the military.Give credit where it is due.

"Gen Panya explained, “Realising the problem about mafia taxi drivers disgracing the image of Phuket, I set up a team led by Gen Paween and Pol Maj Gen Weerasak Meenawanich from Region 8 to investigate and collect evidences."

[LivinginKata]

Political rants and inflammatory posts being removed.

[NamKangMan]

I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

If you read the article you will see that it was the mayor who was rotten, not the police who were transferred by the mayor if they tried to interfere. Mayors are very powerful in Thailand but this one should be getting a very long stretch.

I didn't see the Mayor walking into each business every month collecting "tea money" - I saw the BiB do it.

I didn't see the Mayor on the beach telling a tourist he had to pay for a scratched jet ski - I saw the BiB do it.

I didn't see the Mayor turn a blind eye to the tuk-tuks parking illegally - I saw the BiB do nothing about it.

They are both corrupt. The BiB were the "bagman." They were under the protection of the Mayor. They all deserve to go.

[Cuchulainn]

Throw the book at these animals.

[Alwyn]

I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

No, it was the former national government that didn't have the will to get it done, the local governor and police who didn't have the resources to get it done, and a military coup that apparently sees the need to get it done to finally get it done.

Saying "[it] shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them" underestimates just how powerful these mafias are, and how powerless local authorities were to deal with them.

The corruption started at the top. Their main priority for 8 years was getting their hero back to Thailand, and that trumped any other problems the country had. With 'a new sheriff in town', that priority has changed.

I'll reserve final judgment until the dust settles, but it looks to be a good start. And I hope it's finally the start of a new direction, and finally some hope for Phuket.

Sorry, but the corruption didn't just arrive 8 years ago. Unfortunately it's been around for a lot longer

[kieran2698]

I've always said it would take the Thai Army, and many members ridiculed me.

Just shows how rotten the police are here that it takes the Thai Army to do their job for them.

If you read the article you will see that it was the mayor who was rotten, not the police who were transferred by the mayor if they tried to interfere. Mayors are very powerful in Thailand but this one should be getting a very long stretch.

I didn't see the Mayor walking into each business every month collecting "tea money" - I saw the BiB do it.

I didn't see the Mayor on the beach telling a tourist he had to pay for a scratched jet ski - I saw the BiB do it.

I didn't see the Mayor turn a blind eye to the tuk-tuks parking illegally - I saw the BiB do nothing about it.

They are both corrupt. The BiB were the "bagman." They were under the protection of the Mayor. They all deserve to go.

Absolutely corrupt to the bone as well, but this particular case is about the tuk tuk mafia.