Patpong extortion: Senior staff officer and four accomplices face three charges

[webfact]

Senior staff officer and four accomplices in Patpong extortion face three charges



BANGKOK: -- Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police pressed three charges against Maj Gen Jennarong Dechawan, alias Seh James, an officer attached to the office of the permanent secretary for defence, and four other civilian accomplices in connection with the Patpong extortion case.

The senior staff officer was escorted by officers of the Judge Advocate General’s Department to CSD headquarters Tuesday morning.

Four of his four alleged accomplices – Nongnuch Sithirat, Panthong Siriwan, Chanthima Chotkittikasem and Surat Phumphuan were already at the CSD.

Three charges, extortion, illegally acting as middlemen demanding or accepting bribes, and money laundering, were imposed on them.

Earlier officers from the Judge Advocate General’s Department had filed a complaint against Maj Gen Jennarong and his accomplices with the CSD.

Evidence which comprised photo copies of 27,000 baht in cash allegedly paid to them by vendors, four mobile phones, a list of vending stalls that paid them protection money, a financial account, and hard disks from closed-circuit television cameras at Tawanna Hotel on Surawong road in Bang Rak district, were submitted to the CSD.

But this morning a small group of Patpong vendors also showed up at the CSD headquarters and gave flowers to Maj Gen Jennarong in a show of support. They claimed the officer was innocent and was persecuted by real extortionists in a set-up arrest.

After hearing the charges, all were escorted to the Bangkok South Criminal Court and for court’s permission to extend their detention period for further investigation.

The 55-year-old Army officer is accused of colluding with four civilians to demand bribes from street vendors at Patpong on tourist-crowded Silom road.

It was also reported that a police officer is also involved in the alleged extortion by this group.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/senior-staff-officer-four-accomplices-patpong-extortion-face-three-charges/

[thaipbs]2014-08-05[/thaipbs]

[terryp]

But this morning a small group of Patpong vendors also showed up at the CSD headquarters and gave flowers to Maj Gen Jennarong in a show of support. They claimed the officer was innocent and was persecuted by real extortionists in a set-up arrest.

 

 

so why not give the CSD evidence or names of the so called real villains?...even anonomusly

 

[Deacon Bell]

But this morning a small group of Patpong vendors also showed up at the CSD headquarters and gave flowers to Maj Gen Jennarong in a show of support. They claimed the officer was innocent and was persecuted by real extortionists in a set-up arrest.

 

 

so why not give the CSD evidence or names of the so called real villains?...even anonomusly

 

 

Because these vendors were the ones that were already given a full refund of monies paid?

[Bender]

because anything that sold in patpong market is counterfect product... and the police should have dismantled these stall long time ago.

That why the silom mafia are really grateful to this corrupted police.......hope they get a long term sentence!

[laocowboy2]

because anything that sold in patpong market is counterfect product... and the police should have dismantled these stall long time ago.

That why the silom mafia are really grateful to this corrupted police.......hope they get a long term sentence!

 

While they might be able to hit the vendors for counterfeit goods, a lot of the c&8p sold on stalls actually carries no brand name. It may be rubbish made in China but probably not illegal rubbish. Moreover (unless something has happened that I do not know about) both Patpong 1 and Patpong 2 are actually private land - and that includes the roadways themselves. In the day,  I used to stay at the Tawana (first when it was a Sheraton and then a Ramada) and there were often dubious deals being done in the lobby. Part of the charm - felt a bit like being an extra in a re-make of Casablanca or similar.

[Postmaster]

Give her no more than the following amounts if you can afford it and no extras on top:-

 

In the tourist areas  15,000 per month

Outside "  " "             9,000   "      "

 

These are maximums

[wandasloan]

But this morning a small group of Patpong vendors also showed up at the CSD headquarters and gave flowers to Maj Gen Jennarong in a show of support. They claimed the officer was innocent and was persecuted by real extortionists in a set-up arrest.

 

They're simply betting on what they think will be the winner. No Thai army mafia has ever gone to court, let alone been convicted. Even Seh Daeng, the only way they could get rid of him was to kill him. The army protects its own. Meet the new boss, EXACTLY like all the other old bosses.

 

Were I a Patpong vendor, that's the way I'd bet, too. And even if they're wrong, no one really is going to remember who they were. But when Seh James walks out a free man to resume his public service activities on the Silom byways, he'll remember who DID support him. Or at least that's the hope.

 

.`

[tingtongfarang]

Gob smacked that these officials police or miltitary are not deterred by the possibility of an inactive post on full pay

Edited August 5, 2014 by tingtongfarang

[Lupatria]

Decrease of the "untouchables" and simultaneously increase of inactive posts?

[bronco10250]

When the Sukhumvit mafia aka Lumpini Police Station will be tackled?

[Strangebrew]

Is that Mr. Bean in the picture?

[The Deerhunter]

 

But this morning a small group of Patpong vendors also showed up at the CSD headquarters and gave flowers to Maj Gen Jennarong in a show of support. They claimed the officer was innocent and was persecuted by real extortionists in a set-up arrest.

 

They're simply betting on what they think will be the winner. No Thai army mafia has ever gone to court, let alone been convicted. Even Seh Daeng, the only way they could get rid of him was to kill him. The army protects its own. Meet the new boss, EXACTLY like all the other old bosses.

 

Were I a Patpong vendor, that's the way I'd bet, too. And even if they're wrong, no one really is going to remember who they were. But when Seh James walks out a free man to resume his public service activities on the Silom byways, he'll remember who DID support him. Or at least that's the hope.

 

.`

 

I am not trolling but in the original news item, didn't the locals say they preferred him mainly/only because he took less money than the police protection money guys?

[exona]

Are pink glasses standard Thai Army kit, or did he have special responsibility for Soi 4?

[Traveling Sailor]

But this morning a small group of Patpong vendors also showed up at the CSD headquarters and gave flowers to Maj Gen Jennarong in a show of support. They claimed the officer was innocent and was persecuted by real extortionists in a set-up arrest.

 

 

so why not give the CSD evidence or names of the so called real villains?...even anonomusly

 

Why not? Because they were only paid to say the general was not guilty. They did what they were paid to do, nothing more. Anything more would have required planning and thinking ahead.