Transport officials selling papers for stolen cars, police say

[Lite Beer]

Transport officials selling papers for stolen cars, police say
Kwanhatai Malakarn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Authorities have suspended the registration of some 500 cars because they suspect "official" papers were misused for stolen automobiles.

Information from insurance firms indicates that 1,200 to 1,500 vehicles are wrecked after serious road crashes each year, but registration papers for many of these vehicles continue to be active.

"From our preliminary probe, we have found some genuine registration papers were misused for stolen cars," deputy national police commissioner General Somyot Poompanmoung said yesterday, in his capacity as head of a centre seeking to suppress the stealing of cars and motorcycles.

The Land Transport Department had suspended about 500 registration documents, he said.

But motorists who had registration papers suspended could call 1192 for advice around the clock.

"We understand that some people bought second-hand cars without knowing that they were stolen vehicles," Somyot said.

He urged people to file complaints with police if they had been duped into buying a stolen car.

The investigation suggests that land-transport officials in Prachin Buri, Sakon Nakhon and other provinces in the Northeast may have been involved in the scam, he said.

People planning to buy a second-hand car should go to a reliable agent or buy directly from the owner, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Transport-officials-selling-papers-for-stolen-cars-30238912.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-19

[ezzra]

This is the oldest trick in the books of car thieves, buy a high value, prestige wrecked car and

modify the chassis/engine numbers of a stolen, similar model car to suite the wrecked car

and you have your self a prestige car for fraction of the price....

[noitom]

Thailand should have a database of VIN numbers that stay with the car through multiple years and owners. This is a golden opportunity for the Thai military dictatorship to haul off these Thai government officials and publicly perp walk them, give them trials, and if convicted, loss of benefits and pensions, with fines amounting to money swindled.

[aussieinthailand]

Thailand should have a database of VIN numbers that stay with the car through multiple years and owners. This is a golden opportunity for the Thai military dictatorship to haul off these Thai government officials and publicly perp walk them, give them trials, and if convicted, loss of benefits and pensions, with fines amounting to money swindled.

I like your thinking, but in reality, IF they are found out, then simply do what they have always done, moved too inactive post, what ever that is?

with no consequence for actions

[janpharma]

"....transport officials...." again...

[bangkokheat]

its plain to see, just go to the thai auto auctions and see the crazy money they pay for TOTAL ride offs, i have had years of experience in rebuilding damaged cars, some of these cars are only good for mechanical parts and thats it, this racket was also going on big time in sydney and melbourne

[SiggiCM]

Thailand should have a database of VIN numbers that stay with the car through multiple years and owners. This is a golden opportunity for the Thai military dictatorship to haul off these Thai government officials and publicly perp walk them, give them trials, and if convicted, loss of benefits and pensions, with fines amounting to money swindled.

thailand (Junta) do not have any interest in bring anybody to trial, only a big show, but no court cases

[Carrerakiss]

Eliminating, even reducing corruption in Thailand is a monumental task. I doubt there is a single Government office that isn't tainted by it and virtually every official with some kind of authority, uses that authority for some kind of cash favour even if it's just a request for a 100 baht "tip" for doing their job.

The scale and time frame over which it has occurred eliminates the possibility of court cases and proper punishments. Far too many people would end up in jail. And yet an effective deterrent is part of the ongoing solution, once some of the mess is cleaned up.

[Elcid]

I have a friend who recently died. He left a car and his daughter can not find the ownership book, it's either misplaced or his Thai girlfriend is keeping it to sell the car later after the daughter leaves for England.

Is there anything the daughter can do to sell the car? Please help with a solution to this problem. Thank you

[aussieinthailand]

I think a ezy way to help stop this GOV officials corrupt behavior would be to have mandatory signatures of officials on any paperwork that is given the same as bank staff do, as the paper trail will be there for all to see.

[HerbalEd]

I gotta feeling that many of the buyers of these stolen cars were well aware they were stolen.

[belg]

nice in thailand, cut out the middle man, for a good corruption / theft, go see the manager

[noitom]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Thailand should have a database of VIN numbers that stay with the car through multiple years and owners. This is a golden opportunity for the Thai military dictatorship to haul off these Thai government officials and publicly perp walk them, give them trials, and if convicted, loss of benefits and pensions, with fines amounting to money swindled.

I like your thinking, but in reality, IF they are found out, then simply do what they have always done, moved too inactive post, what ever that is?

with no consequence for actions

Correct! As long as there is no effective and prosecutorial response by the Thai military dictatorship nothing will ever change in Thailand.

[kartman]

I have a friend who recently died. He left a car and his daughter can not find the ownership book, it's either misplaced or his Thai girlfriend is keeping it to sell the car later after the daughter leaves for England.

Is there anything the daughter can do to sell the car? Please help with a solution to this problem. Thank you

Was he the registered owner? if the girlfriend she's the owner, was it on finance? if so finance co will have book.

[oldsailor35]

Surprise surprise. Were'nt some of these cars with drawn because bidders were not offering high enough money.

Now it will be interesting to see who buys them and at what prices. When this information is disclosed, please show the rejected auction price. Of course this only applies to the Custom's seized luxury cars.

Edited July 19, 2014 by oldsailor35

[oldsailor35]

Thailand should have a database of VIN numbers that stay with the car through multiple years and owners. This is a golden opportunity for the Thai military dictatorship to haul off these Thai government officials and publicly perp walk them, give them trials, and if convicted, loss of benefits and pensions, with fines amounting to money swindled.

Give the general time he will not let this go away. This is why he needs a term as PM after his army days.

[oldsailor35]

I have a friend who recently died. He left a car and his daughter can not find the ownership book, it's either misplaced or his Thai girlfriend is keeping it to sell the car later after the daughter leaves for England.

Is there anything the daughter can do to sell the car? Please help with a solution to this problem. Thank you

Why not just go the appropiate department and report the book as lost, get a new one and whoever has the old one is just hanging on to junk. I did this recently with a motorcy.

[NoshowJones]

Thailand should have a database of VIN numbers that stay with the car through multiple years and owners. This is a golden opportunity for the Thai military dictatorship to haul off these Thai government officials and publicly perp walk them, give them trials, and if convicted, loss of benefits and pensions, with fines amounting to money swindled.

thailand (Junta) do not have any interest in bring anybody to trial, only a big show, but no court cases

That's the way it seems so far.

[FangFerang]

Thailand should have a database of VIN numbers that stay with the car through multiple years and owners. This is a golden opportunity for the Thai military dictatorship to haul off these Thai government officials and publicly perp walk them, give them trials, and if convicted, loss of benefits and pensions, with fines amounting to money swindled.

I like your thinking, but in reality, IF they are found out, then simply do what they have always done, moved too inactive post, what ever that is?

with no consequence for actions

The last thing any Thai agency or government branch wants is a database. All reserve the right to a piranha feeding frenzy once they are in power. It's not a loophole. It's a free pass no side wants ended anytime soon.

The General is in power ...now. There are still other powers in Thailand. He is not about to tangle with his equals -- if they are corrupt or not.

[paz]

The last thing any Thai agency or government branch wants is a database. All reserve the right to a piranha feeding frenzy once they are in power. It's not a loophole. It's a free pass no side wants ended anytime soon.

Thy have the database. Then as you say, using it properly is another story.

[lineofentry]

In the UK the 'Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority' (DVLA) will quite happily give out registration documents to stolen cars. They don't give a rats ass who owns the car or if it's stolen or not. The ONLY thing they care about is who they can send the 'penalty notices' to. The guillotine is too soft.

[Loles]

"....transport officials...."

anyway they couldn't sale potato ...

[frozin1]

It would also be nice if they went after 'clipped' vehicles. Last month my wife and I passed a pickup that had fractured in half just behind the cab, when I explained the reason to her she was astounded. I'm sure quite a few Thai's/Farang are driving around in similarly unsafe vehicles that are just accidents waiting to happen. For those of you that are unfamiliar with clipped vehicles it is the process of welding the front half of one vehicle to the rear half of another. If the rear is irreparably damaged on one and the front half of the other is toast... weld the two good halves together and voila!... one outwardly appearing intact vehicle. Always inspect the frame of any used vehicle up on a rack before considering purchase.

F1