Hunt for extortion ring 'godmother' in Pattaya

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Hunt for extortion ring 'godmother' in Pattaya
The Nation

PATTAYA: -- News about gang scamming millions off migrants seems like another reason to justify the military coup

Strange as it may sound, a 'godmother' in Pattaya has brought together the police and the military, who have decided to combine forces to chase her down and throw the law book at her.

But this woman was not in the normal "mamasan business" that Sin City is famous for. She is wanted for allegedly being a key figure in a big extortion ring in Chon Buri province.

According to initial investigation, the ring has reportedly collected Bt2,000 per month each from more than 100 Vietnamese nationals working in Pattaya.

Those who pay were given a name card that showed they were "protected" by Wikanda sae Lim or "Je Jiab", the godmother at large.

So far one police officer has been identified as having a questionable link to her ring. But something tells us that there may be more officials in on this scam.

Two of Je Jiab's aides were arrested this past week: Sukhum Kaewdorndu, a 30-year-old Thai national, and Kaew, a Vietnamese man whose real name was not made available.

In a raid on a house in Bang Lamung district believed to be the operation centre of this ring, police found a gun, passports and bank passbooks. The cash flow through the bank accounts was around Bt50 million.

"By paying a fee of Bt2,000 a month they can get protection. If summoned by officials in the area, they can produce the purple card given by us and local officials will know they are with Je Jiab," Kaew told the authorities after they nabbed him.

The story about the protection ring is not unusual in Thailand, especially in places like Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations. About five million people visit this seaside resort on a yearly basis and one would think it's virtually impossible to keep a lid on every crime in the city.

But given the amount of cash flow this ring was making, and the number of people who may have been linked to it - officials and foreign nationals looking for work - it's amazing how such an operation could have gone for so long undetected. Or was it because the officials chose to turn a blind eye?

If anything, it indicates a failure of our system of governance. We are not just talking about employing illegal foreign workers.

We are talking about an inadequate employment system that ignores the issue of legality, thus, opening up opportunities for exploitation and other illicit practices.

Many say Pattaya is designed to attract the worst kind of foreign tourists. That may be true, considering the kind of industry that the city caters to. But we are not talking about morality here. We are talking about corrupt practices that, with the help of local law enforcement, exploit foreign nationals. And if the law of the land can take on Pattaya and survive, there is a hope for Thailand's law enforcement after all.

But why did we have to wait for the military to take charge of the government through a coup before such a ring could be taken down

By doing nothing to counter such scams - regardless of which state agencies are at fault (and some might say that is all of us, in a way), are we not giving the military an excuse to intervene in the country's politics and governance?

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Hunt-for-extortion-ring-godmother-in-Pattaya-30242694.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-07

[EricBerg]

If found, that "godmother" may very well be dead. As those cards seem to have worked for a period, many cops and perhaps other officials must have been on the payroll.

The bigger their number, the bigger the godmother's chance of not being able to talk.

[Fiddlesticks]

it's amazing how such an operation could have gone for so long undetected. Or was it because the officials chose to turn a blind eye?

Nooooooo! Please tell me this does not happen in Thailand. I just can not believe it! ! ! ! ! !

[Seastallion]

" Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations. ",

I always wondered why some people say that Pats really goes off.

[Bluespunk]

How do they get a cash flow of 50 million baht from 100 people a month paying 2000 baht? Have to run for over 20 years to get that figure.

Edited September 7, 2014 by Bluespunk

[pistonbroke]

Ohh now I understand why my wife won't let me go to Pattaya..... It is because there is to so much "Corruption" there.

[BSJ]

It's obvious that some of the police in Pattaya have a lot to answer for....and not just in this case.

[bangkokheat]

just go in and nuke the place, just let me know before hand so i can get the fk outta there

[starship]

I think the author has the same idea..."especially in places like Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations"

[ginjag]

Ohh now I understand why my wife won't let me go to Pattaya..... It is because there is to so much "Corruption" there.

She is more than likely to believe that you would succumb to the temptations and " dip your bread "

[retell]

A picture of the lady would help

[bluegum]

Extortion is perhaps the 2nd oldest profession in the world. What's surprising is that, in this case, the BIB have let others in on the game.

[Triplebank999]

How do they get a cash flow of 50 million baht from 100 people a month paying 2000 baht? Have to run for over 20 years to get that figure.

The figures came from the banks' passbooks that were confiscated.

[Upset]

Ah...Pattaya and Phuket......always stay away from these cesspits and also people who come from there or stay there.

[Thai at Heart]

Strike one for getting off the people trafficking list

[useronthenet]

Not surprised, given foreigners have very little rights. Extortion/trafficking comes in different forms, be it official or not.

[FireMedic]

Just put it in the paper and she will let them know when she will turn herself in....like in Phuket. In the meanwhile she will be in Bangkok securing her bail and release before she decides to turn herself in.

[marcusd]

I think the author has the same idea..."especially in places like Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations"

I am having a DUMB DAY. I don't know what you mean by the author has the same idea????

[marcusd]

Well Pattaya being corrupt? NAH NEVER> Passports used illegally obtained from Pattaya on that missing Malaysian Plane. Motor Bikes with tourists. Sex. Drugs. Police always in the news. ATM Scams. I am missing heaps but I do know that many people there from other Asian nations are On "Holidays" and earning a living from other things. (i have met a few OK so don't ask for elaborations.)

So why would there not be Police involved?

My Thia friends always say when the Bangkok Police come down to Pattaya the Pattaya Police get scared.

Why would they if they were doing everything - or most things - right and correct?

The place is a cesspit of corruption. Look at who the main stays are there? RUSSIAN MAFIA and they are known the world over for being what Pattaya has become.

[Bluespunk]

How do they get a cash flow of 50 million baht from 100 people a month paying 2000 baht? Have to run for over 20 years to get that figure.

The figures came from the banks' passbooks that were confiscated.

Yep. Still doesn't add up though. Where's the rest of the money coming from?

[kurnell]

So we are all learning now that Thailand is utterly lacking in morals and the military is gonna fix it all. Should be interesting

[nong38]

Where to look for her first mmmmmm best set up a committee to discuss it, then we need a hub, if you have not got a hub you are no one in Thailand.

[ramrod711]

But why did we have to wait for the military to take charge of the government through a coup before such a ring could be taken down

Because the the governments that were in power for more than a decade encouraged corruption, participated in it and profited from it.

[doggie888888]

I think the author has the same idea..."especially in places like Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations"

There are many cunning stunts happening down in pattaya. Some stunning ...

But i have never heard of Pattaya being described as one of asia's spectacular destinations.

[starship]

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I think the author has the same idea..."especially in places like Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations"

I am having a DUMB DAY. I don't know what you mean by the author has the same idea????

I was jokingly replying to Bangkokheat's comment about Nuking the place. As usual these Thai articles have incorrect terms.." Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist DETONATIONS"

[wandasloan]

If found, that "godmother" may very well be dead. As those cards seem to have worked for a period, many cops and perhaps other officials must have been on the payroll.

The bigger their number, the bigger the godmother's chance of not being able to talk.

You are correct. This occupation is reserved for the military only.

[FangFerang]

"Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations"

Ka boom!

[Yann55]

How do they get a cash flow of 50 million baht from 100 people a month paying 2000 baht? Have to run for over 20 years to get that figure.

The figures came from the banks' passbooks that were confiscated.

Yep. Still doesn't add up though. Where's the rest of the money coming from?

You were probably right in the first place, Bluespunk, this must have been going on for years. Look at the trucks carrying hundreds of workers to their construction sites in the morning and back to their slums in the evening like cattle... When you know that most of them have been illegal migrant workers for years, the figures would go in the millions very easily, at 2000 a month/a head.

People robbing the poor are the lowest form of scum, but they just apply the old principle :

Why rob the poor rather than the rich ? Because there's so much more of them !

Edited September 7, 2014 by Yann55

[ponchomd]

How do they get a cash flow of 50 million baht from 100 people a month paying 2000 baht? Have to run for over 20 years to get that figure.

The figures came from the banks' passbooks that were confiscated.

Yep. Still doesn't add up though. Where's the rest of the money coming from?

You were probably right in the first place, Bluespunk, this must have been going on for years. Look at the trucks carrying hundreds of workers to their construction sites in the morning and back to their slums in the evening like cattle... When you know that most of them have been illegal migrant workers for years, the figures would go in the millions very easily, at 2000 a month/a head.

People robbing the poor are the lowest form of scum, but they just apply the old principle :

Why rob the poor rather than the rich ? Because there's so much more of them !

So sadly true.

[Thongkorn]

" Pattaya, one of Asia's many spectacular tourist detonations. ",

I always wondered why some people say that Pats really goes off.

Pattaya one of Asia's spectacular toilets.