Bangkok: Bribe-taking investigation following a pub raid

[Soiyamoto]

Can start on pattaya next, he will have his hands full down there

[RigPig]

Can anyone give me the GPS coordinates for "inactive post", I can't find it on Google Earth,but I figure it has the biggest police force in Thailand and will be the safest place ...as long as you have the money ! I want to move there.

[webfact]

Prawes district police chief and his deputies removed over pub raid



BANGKOK: -- The superintendent of Prawes district police and his two deputies were on Sunday temporarily transferred to Metropolitan Police Bureau pending an investigation into alleged bribe taking concerning with a traditional massage parlour in the district.

Pol Col Somkuan Poengsap, the superintendent, and his two deputies for suppression affairs, Pol Lt-Col Padet Phuboompakarn and Pol Lt-Col Boworn Pengsuk, will serve at the MPB for 30 days pending the probe.

The probe and transfer followed a raid last Saturday night of the Ryder Resort pub and Khum Phra Ram massage parlour which are located on the same compound off Srinagarind road by a team of police and military personnel.

The raid netted some narcotics drugs and eight underaged migrant workers suspected to be sex workers for Khum Phra Ram. A notebook purportedly shows amounts of money paid to police from different units was also seized.

The owner of Ryder Resort pub said that he leased part of his land to the operator of Khum Phra Ram and had nothing to do with alleged prostitution.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/prawes-district-police-chief-deputies-removed-pub-raid/


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-03

[Equalizer]

We all know this is par for the course everywhere. What i believe is the general needs to stop handing the police excuses to extort money through some of Thailand's out dated laws with regards to closing times. Especially as these are mainly enforced in tourist destinations. If the law changed to 24/7 with music restricted to 2.00am in pubs, and that silly turn your lights off at midnight rule is scrapped, these police will not be able to milk it as much. Also the music license & entertainment license should be amended as this also gives them an excuse to milk it. 5 bars on a soi and 2 are open but the other three must close gives of a bad taste in my eyes. People new to Thailand naturally question why this is happening.

We all know the salary of a police officer is poor and people will argue that this is the way the people at the top want to keep it rather than taking responsibility for these guys livelihood. However i for one do not agree that Thai people who cater for foreigners should bear the brunt of all the corruption, ie bar owners who are simply addressing the customers wishes. I am not strictly referring to the case here involving girls and gear. Just your local squeezing out a living local who constantly get harassed because they are not connected.

[jabis]

Can anyone give me the GPS coordinates for "inactive post", I can't find it on Google Earth,but I figure it has the biggest police force in Thailand and will be the safest place ...as long as you have the money ! I want to move there.

Are you sure that it would be the safest place, with all them transfers?

[Whidbeyboy]

But acting like prostitution is a surprise? Hell, make me a cop and I'll bust 10,000 in one night if that were the case.

[Whidbeyboy]

A bar that supplied prostitutes in Thailand disgusting shortly this will all be a thing of the past we hope.

Huh? Unless the economy gets better and poor people are no more I don't see big change ahead.

I wonder how many single men would retire there if cheap women were no more?

Thailand would still be a great place, maybe better, but we all know that cheap young women is a big draw for many men.

To be honest, if I was 20 years younger it would be a big reason for me. Now, I could care less. Just give me a beautiful view and some cold beer and I'm just fine.

[Katipo]

I like it how they pretend that finding a police officer taking bribes/kick backs from pubs and bars is a surprise and thus implying it is a rare occurrence.

[RigPig]

Can anyone give me the GPS coordinates for "inactive post", I can't find it on Google Earth,but I figure it has the biggest police force in Thailand and will be the safest place ...as long as you have the money ! I want to move there.

Are you sure that it would be the safest place, with all them transfers?

No bu I am pretty sure I can afford the "basic insurance policy"......

[jdinasia]

The pub in question is on the soi next to Seacon Square and next to a school.

[hawker9000]

Casablanca: Claude Rains << I just LOVE that scene

Bribes?

Prostitution?

Police?

Bogie(angry): "How can you close me up? On what grounds?"

Rains[Chief of Police]: "....I'm shocked, SHOCKED to find that gambling is going on in here ..."

Casino Asst (handing cash to Rains): "Your winnings, Sir."

Rains: "Oh, thank-you very much. (continuing to crowd): Everybody out at once!"

Truly one of moviedom's greatest moments!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME

Edited November 3, 2014 by hawker9000

[NanLaew]

A bar that supplied prostitutes in Thailand disgusting shortly this will all be a thing of the past we hope.

Not in your lifetime Jim. Or your children's. Or your children's children.

For which we are eternally grateful.

The pub in question is on the soi next to Seacon Square and next to a school.

Is this remarkable?

I recall in Houston that they passed an ordinance where you couldn't open a new titty bar if there was a school or church within half-a-mile. So the squeaky clean counselors backed like-minded narrow-minded people to set up shonky 'churches' near the existing titty bars without realising the new ordinance didn't cover the existing titty bars.

For which we are eternally grateful as well.

[longtom]

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

The police here openly walk from business to business collecting money for 'protection'. Every bar, restaurant..... basically if you want to do business, you pay the police or they will have you arrested on trumped up charges.

The coup has changed nothing here at all in Thailand's second biggest city.

Really, restaurants and other shops which do nothing illegal (no prostitution/drugs/extended opening hours)?

And people complain about the mafia in the south? Never heard about a restaurant or such having to pay police on the islands for example, as long as everything is above board.

[Carrerakiss]

I don't think that many of the readers see the significance of this. Instead of sweeping it under the already lumpy carpet, they are actually investigating what has been happening.

Without being too optimistic, for me anyway, it is a step in the right direction. There will be quite a few people panicking about this.

Get rid of the inactive posts and enforce the full force of the law, they might be on the path to making a difference.......................

This isn't a first step in the right direction, it's just an anomaly. Like the one and only massage parkour raided in Pattaya a while back.

Meanwhile, in every town in Thailand, police are taking money from pretty much every entertainment venue, whether girls are available or not, if alcohol is served. And Somyot doesn't know that? Duh.

[kannot]

pigs investigating pigs.............funny.

[Jonmarleesco]

I can see banned lanterns being replaced with blazing airborne notebooks.

[Tatsujin]

Look, if they really wanted to crack down on all of this, the Police simply need to look amongst their own ranks.

There is no bar, whorehouse or similar type of operation anywhere in Thailand that isn't either owned by the Police or being protected by the Police for some serious backhanders.

That's how they get their "unusual wealth" . . . which nobody is ever surprised by . . .

[jabis]

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

The police here openly walk from business to business collecting money for 'protection'. Every bar, restaurant..... basically if you want to do business, you pay the police or they will have you arrested on trumped up charges.

The coup has changed nothing here at all in Thailand's second biggest city.

Really, restaurants and other shops which do nothing illegal (no prostitution/drugs/extended opening hours)?

And people complain about the mafia in the south? Never heard about a restaurant or such having to pay police on the islands for example, as long as everything is above board.

Whether you have heard of such or not, does not mean the practise doesn't exist.

E:typo

Edited November 3, 2014 by jabis

[hawker9000]

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

The police here openly walk from business to business collecting money for 'protection'. Every bar, restaurant..... basically if you want to do business, you pay the police or they will have you arrested on trumped up charges.

The coup has changed nothing here at all in Thailand's second biggest city.

Really, restaurants and other shops which do nothing illegal (no prostitution/drugs/extended opening hours)?

And people complain about the mafia in the south? Never heard about a restaurant or such having to pay police on the islands for example, as long as everything is above board.

Whether you have heard of such or not, does not mean the practise doesn't exist.

E:typo

It wouldn't really be the type of thing you'd expect locals to be openly discussing with foreigners, now would it?

[jabis]

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

The police here openly walk from business to business collecting money for 'protection'. Every bar, restaurant..... basically if you want to do business, you pay the police or they will have you arrested on trumped up charges.

The coup has changed nothing here at all in Thailand's second biggest city.

Really, restaurants and other shops which do nothing illegal (no prostitution/drugs/extended opening hours)?

And people complain about the mafia in the south? Never heard about a restaurant or such having to pay police on the islands for example, as long as everything is above board.

Whether you have heard of such or not, does not mean the practise doesn't exist.

E:typo

It wouldn't really be the type of thing you'd expect locals to be openly discussing with foreigners, now would it?

Indeed - especially now while under martial law, for that matter I personally know a couple of entrepreneurs, who were ousted from Ko Samui by them shady 'influential figures', because they wouldn't 'play along'. The other one was a Thai couple, and the other an Aussie with Thai wife, so no discrimination based on tanning there.

[Carrerakiss]

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

The police here openly walk from business to business collecting money for 'protection'. Every bar, restaurant..... basically if you want to do business, you pay the police or they will have you arrested on trumped up charges.

The coup has changed nothing here at all in Thailand's second biggest city.

Really, restaurants and other shops which do nothing illegal (no prostitution/drugs/extended opening hours)?

And people complain about the mafia in the south? Never heard about a restaurant or such having to pay police on the islands for example, as long as everything is above board.

If they sell alcohol for consumption on the premises, they will be paying BIB. I've lived in Phuket and Udon for many years and everyone I know who runs such an establishment, pays some cash. All duly recorded in notebooks.

[Lupatria]

"Are you a pimp? No! Are you a robber, drug or weapon dealer? No! Did you win the lottery twice? No! Does your dad own a brewery? No! Then how the heck do you live in wealth without working or running a business."

Answer: "I am a former cop, a former immigration- and a former customs official. Now I hold 3 inactive posts!"

[longtom]

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

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

Really, restaurants and other shops which do nothing illegal (no prostitution/drugs/extended opening hours)? alt=blink.png>

And people complain about the mafia in the south? Never heard about a restaurant or such having to pay police on the islands for example, as long as everything is above board.

Whether you have heard of such or not, does not mean the practise doesn't exist. alt=wai.gif width=20 height=20>

E:typo

It wouldn't really be the type of thing you'd expect locals to be openly discussing with foreigners, now would it?

Indeed - especially now while under martial law, for that matter alt=whistling.gif> I personally know a couple of entrepreneurs, who were ousted from Ko Samui by them shady 'influential figures', because they wouldn't 'play along'. The other one was a Thai couple, and the other an Aussie with Thai wife, so no discrimination based on tanning there.

I know at least 20 restaurant owners on Samui, none of them pays 1 baht bribe. As I said, you do anything illegal - of course you pay.

edit: I forgot the coffes or other non-alcoholic drinks which are usually free for the BiB

Edited November 3, 2014 by longtom

[longtom]

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

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

The police here openly walk from business to business collecting money for 'protection'. Every bar, restaurant..... basically if you want to do business, you pay the police or they will have you arrested on trumped up charges.

The coup has changed nothing here at all in Thailand's second biggest city.

Really, restaurants and other shops which do nothing illegal (no prostitution/drugs/extended opening hours)?

And people complain about the mafia in the south? Never heard about a restaurant or such having to pay police on the islands for example, as long as everything is above board.

If they sell alcohol for consumption on the premises, they will be paying BIB. I've lived in Phuket and Udon for many years and everyone I know who runs such an establishment, pays some cash. All duly recorded in notebooks.

Unless you call an alcohol license a bribe I call BS

[jabis]

I know at least 20 restaurant owners on Samui, none of them pays 1 baht bribe. As I said, you do anything illegal - of course you pay.

edit: I forgot the coffes or other non-alcoholic drinks which are usually free for the BiB

Lucky buggers then - or perhaps you're not in the loop to know of such proceedings(?).

And no the people I referred to did nothing illegal, another one a resort with a dozen of cottages, and the other a plain and simple restaurant - got good positions for business, which somebody else wanted for themselves, and thus smoked the businesses out of the entire island because refused going with the local 'arrangements'. Not going to dwell more into the details, as it is not my place, just letting you know that there is more than meets the eye - unfortunately

[longtom]

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

I know at least 20 restaurant owners on Samui, none of them pays 1 baht bribe. As I said, you do anything illegal - of course you pay. alt=wai2.gif width=20 height=20>

edit: I forgot the coffes or other non-alcoholic drinks which are usually free for the BiB

Lucky buggers then - or perhaps you're not in the loop to know of such proceedings(?).

And no the people I referred to did nothing illegal, another one a resort with a dozen of cottages, and the other a plain and simple restaurant - got good positions for business, which somebody else wanted for themselves, and thus smoked the businesses out of the entire island because refused going with the local 'arrangements'. Not going to dwell more into the details, as it is not my place, just letting you know that there is more than meets the eye - unfortunately alt=rolleyes.gif>

I thought we were talking about regular bribes to the BiB, of course there are many other ways how to kick somebody out of their business.

[Thanatta]

and absolutely NO WAY to arrest the 2 offending officers because they have been transferred out of the jurisdiction. Well MAYBE we can find out where they were transferred to Barney Fife.

Ask me!

[JoeLing]

Is there that many inactive posts available ?

Last time I checked at the unemployment office for an inactive post,

they told me, I lack the necessary qualifications

[jabis]

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

I know at least 20 restaurant owners on Samui, none of them pays 1 baht bribe. As I said, you do anything illegal - of course you pay. alt=wai2.gif width=20 height=20>

edit: I forgot the coffes or other non-alcoholic drinks which are usually free for the BiB

Lucky buggers then - or perhaps you're not in the loop to know of such proceedings(?).

And no the people I referred to did nothing illegal, another one a resort with a dozen of cottages, and the other a plain and simple restaurant - got good positions for business, which somebody else wanted for themselves, and thus smoked the businesses out of the entire island because refused going with the local 'arrangements'. Not going to dwell more into the details, as it is not my place, just letting you know that there is more than meets the eye - unfortunately alt=rolleyes.gif>

I thought we were talking about regular bribes to the BiB, of course there are many other ways how to kick somebody out of their business.

Well, to be left alone it would have to have been a regular percentage, thus in manner of speaking, directly related - tho some people who recognize self-worth and have spine, can carry their businesses elsewhere, instead of caving in

[searayman]

NO PROSTITUTION………BUT PAY BAR FINE TO BRING GIRL OUT BACK TO HOTEL ONLY.