Top Thai police linked to unrest, oil smuggling

[webfact]

Top police linked to unrest, oil smuggling
The Nation



DSI and AMLO to investigate former CIB chief and others' alleged involvement in corruption, money ties to far South

BANGKOK: -- TWO CRIME-FIGHTING agencies have been assigned to investigate a series of high-profile arrests - including Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan - over a longstanding contraband petrol trade that may have been used to back insurgents in the deep South.

Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya said the DSI had found that insurgents and those involved in the petrol trade had reciprocally supported each other and the illegal activity involved unidentified government officials.

The heads of the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Department of Special Investigation met with Paiboon and were told to investigate the matter.

Pongpat had been the subject of an asset seizure, Paiboon said, following the discovery of a huge amount of cash and other assets at his home. The cache has not yet been witnessed by the media.

National police chief General Somyot Poompanmoung said more details surrounding the arrest of Pongpat and other police would be revealed at a press conference this morning.

Pongpat, former deputy CIB Commissioner Maj-General Kowit Wongrungroj, Marine Police commander Maj-General Bunsueb Phraithuen, Colonel Wutthichart Luensukhan, a senior Customer Protection Division officer, Snr Sgt Major Surasak Janngoa and Snr Sgt Major Chattrin Laothong have been suspended from duty.

Royal Thai Police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri said two civilians wanted in connection with the illicit scheme - husband and wife Chob Chinprapha and Tiyaphan - had been apprehended and were being questioned in police detention.

A total of 10 suspects were taken to the Criminal Court for detention yesterday morning.

According to news reports, some suspects were released on bail. But later unconfirmed reports said all 10 were still in custody and had requested to see their lawyers.

Kowit was the only person released on bail yesterday, social media posts said.

A large contingent of riot police were deployed at the Criminal Court, where a large number of media had converged.

In further a development on the case, Prawut said a civilian, Sawong Mungthiang, had contacted police to turn himself in. But civilian suspect Ruengsak Saknarongdej was still on the run.

Former Crime Suppression Division commander Maj-General Chaithat Bunkham was transferred but has not been charged as no evidence has been found implicating him in the scandal, but Chaithat is subject to a disciplinary investigation slated to be finished in 30 days.

'High-profile crime buster'

Before taking the helm of the CIB four years ago, Pongpat was known for busting crimes as a police officer, and was given several high-profile positions including the influential post at the Crime Suppression Division.

Of the cases he handled successfully, many involved international crime syndicates and drug traffickers, along with corruption cases involving Thai government agencies.

A graduate from the Royal Police Cadet Academy in the same class as national police chief Somyot and deputy chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen, Pongpat climbed the career ladder fast after serving at several Bangkok-based police stations, before he was transferred to CSD and finally took the top post.

He has also undergone several domestic and overseas training sessions and has also given lectures at many police or civilian academies.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Top-police-linked-to-unrest-oil-smuggling-30248494.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-25

[thesetat2013]

Being that the RTP are notorious for flashing and parading their hauls and suspects in the media it is very strange that in this instance there are no pictures of the money and gold and other items siezed???

[KhunMoo]

Good to see one of the Fat-Cat's napped, at last.

Now we just need the army, to start looking in to corruption on big public-contracts...including military purchases!

And and return to democracy, as fast as possible.


Let's see - I have hope - but again, these things seem to just go in circle....

[MaxLee]

inactive post would be my bet

[tbthailand]

can you say 'purge'?

[siampolee]

Some time ago when talking with a Thai friend who is in a position of some prominence within the civil administration network he let it slip that a certain gentleman who suffers from a chronic ongoing ear affliction was rather heavily involved in somewhat disruptive and aggressive acts in the South as was a ''political crusader who had donated ground for a public park in Bangkok in the past and who had been a somewhat controversial M.P. too who was recently seen carrying a lamp to light the way to the path of democracy? Well that's what the said character claimed anyway.

Now was the controversial ex M.P. perhaps seeking a refund on his past ''investments'' due to poor returns, perhaps a chronically ill person was or is trying to scramble back into favour along with consolidating his errant sons police position thus these recent starling revelations concerning a flexible renta cop?

Indeed it is a tangled web of deceit, dishonesty and intrigue along with mysterious deaths too.

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm sure the new head of the DSI, or any other official for that matter, will not comment but it would be nice to know if this case has just suddenly appeared on the radar or was it known about, suspected or even hinted at previously.

The question cannot be answered because it would beg the question why was nothing done ?

I'm sure many will suspect that political affiliations, loyalties etc may have something to do with the current action and possibly why nothing was done earlier.

[webfact]

EX-CIB chief and three officers granted bail



BANGKOK: -- Former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat Chayaphan, his former deputy, Pol Maj-Gen Kowit Muangnuan and two other police officers charged with malfeasance in office, bribery, money laundering among other charges were released on bail Monday afternoon.

Police did not give details about the amount of money or property put up as bail by each of the four officers who also included Pol Maj-Gen Boonsueb Praithoen and Pol Col Kowit Muangnuan.

Six other suspects were detained for another 12 days as police rejected their request for bail. They were identified as Pol Col Wutthichart Luensukhan, Pol Acting Sub-Lt Surasak Chan-ngao, Pol Acting Sub-Lt ChakarinLaothong, Mrs Sawong Moongthiang, Mr Chob Chinprapa and Mrs Tiyaphan Chinprapa.

Two more suspects, Mrs Sudathip Muangnuan and Mr Roengsak Saknarong are still on the run.

Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, the national police chief, is to hold a press conference tomorrow morning to divulge more details about the case against this gang.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-cib-chief-three-officers-granted-bail


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-25

[siampolee]

One wonders just how long it will be before these characters are away on their toes a bit sharpish and assorted witnesses suffer from selective attacks of amnesia and sudden death syndrome too.

Lively, lively, the night is going fast
Lively, lively, we've all got murky pasts
Lively, lively, don't keep these blokes (Thai'd) tied
Cause' if you do it's a baht to a quid that we all end up inside!

Apologies to the late great Lonnie Donegan for the editing of these lyrics

http://alt.music.lyrics.narkive.com/J4tZ59hj/lyrics-for-lonnie-donegan-s-lively

Edited November 25, 2014 by siampolee

[ColdSingha]

corruption to a scale of billions of baht.

granted bail.

words fail me.

[chooka]

So the plebs with little money or power were refused bail whilst the big influencial boys got it.

[Beetlejuice]

It was announced on the Thai television news yesterday that these guys were yielding in 15 million baht per month each.

[NongKhaiKid]

Is it now a question of " Bye Bye, see you again if you ever return " ?

Meanwhile the authorities can issue the usual ' looking for ' statement and that's it.

[ffaarraanngg]

It was announced on the Thai television news yesterday that these guys were yielding in 15 million baht per month each.

And now friends of the yellow shirts will be getting this money that is rightfully theirs.

All this is, is making sure friends of the last government no longer get the wealth that the old ruling elite see as being their own.

[robblok]

I'm sure the new head of the DSI, or any other official for that matter, will not comment but it would be nice to know if this case has just suddenly appeared on the radar or was it known about, suspected or even hinted at previously.

The question cannot be answered because it would beg the question why was nothing done ?

I'm sure many will suspect that political affiliations, loyalties etc may have something to do with the current action and possibly why nothing was done earlier.

Of course the PTP protected and covered things up just like they did with the bombings and gun attacks on the anti government protesters. Now they cant protect their crooks anymore. The army is cleaning up and it is good.

I still remember charlem saying go home protesters its not safe i think a third party wants to hurt you while now we know thanks to arrests made by the army it were redshirts.

So its only normal to find out about more crimes that were covered up.

Same as the rice program... no losses... really. Now we know what the real losses are.

So things like this popping up is not stange at all i bet there are more skeletons in that will pop up over time.

[Bluespunk]

"Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya said the DSI had found that insurgents and those involved in the petrol trade had reciprocally supported each other and the illegal activity involved unidentified government officials."

Ah, now the picture becomes clearer. No wonder the army are peed off with these guys.

[RustBucket]

corruption to a scale of billions of baht.

granted bail.

words fail me.

Well if they are on bail it is a lot easier for them to arrange the cash transfers to pay for their special justice system treatment.

All quite logical really.

[chainarong]

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

I'm sure the new head of the DSI, or any other official for that matter, will not comment but it would be nice to know if this case has just suddenly appeared on the radar or was it known about, suspected or even hinted at previously.

The question cannot be answered because it would beg the question why was nothing done ?

I'm sure many will suspect that political affiliations, loyalties etc may have something to do with the current action and possibly why nothing was done earlier.

Speculation is one thing , pinning the tail on the donkey is another NKK, ,it is only six months in since the coup , miracles take a little longer , even with Google and an IPad downloading faceBook..

[CWMcMurray]

can you say 'purge'?

This is definitely a good start and happy to see, but wouldn't yet qualify as a 'purge' yet.

Let's see 100 more similar cases and I will then use the word 'purge'

[alfalfa19]

Sounds like they are going to hang these guys out to dry. I guess the good old boy network only goes so far, even in Thailand.

[Seastallion]

Being that the RTP are notorious for flashing and parading their hauls and suspects in the media it is very strange that in this instance there are no pictures of the money and gold and other items siezed???

Yes, and the article comment "The cache has not yet been witnessed by the media." alludes to the same suspicion.

Could it be that his rank is such that they do not yet want to burn all bridges to a backtrack? Just in case they later need to announce, "Oh, we made a mistake and miscalculated the worth of the assets....it was only 1 million for which there is an innocent explanation."

[rametindallas]

Being that the RTP are notorious for flashing and parading their hauls and suspects in the media it is very strange that in this instance there are no pictures of the money and gold and other items siezed???

The cache has not yet been witnessed by the media.

The police are going to have to rent out Muang Thong Thani IMPACT Arena to be able to display all the loot.

[alfalfa19]

The arrestees look none too happy. Time wounds all heels, I reckon.

[uptheos]

Good to see one of the Fat-Cat's napped, at last.

Now we just need the army, to start looking in to corruption on big public-contracts...including military purchases!

And and return to democracy, as fast as possible.

Let's see - I have hope - but again, these things seem to just go in circle....

Doubt it, more likely the police will eventually be replaced by the military.........and the story will be complete.

[rametindallas]

I'm sure the new head of the DSI, or any other official for that matter, will not comment but it would be nice to know if this case has just suddenly appeared on the radar or was it known about, suspected or even hinted at previously.

The question cannot be answered because it would beg the question why was nothing done ?

I'm sure many will suspect that political affiliations, loyalties etc may have something to do with the current action and possibly why nothing was done earlier.

The current head of the DSI was appointed only last month. Maybe one of his enemies delivered his head on a silver platter to the new DSI. This is Thailand so just about any story you can think up is plausible.

[rametindallas]

EX-CIB chief and three officers granted bail

BANGKOK: -- Former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat Chayaphan, his former deputy, Pol Maj-Gen Kowit Muangnuan and two other police officers charged with malfeasance in office, bribery, money laundering among other charges were released on bail Monday afternoon.

Police did not give details about the amount of money or property put up as bail by each of the four officers who also included Pol Maj-Gen Boonsueb Praithoen and Pol Col Kowit Muangnuan.

Six other suspects were detained for another 12 days as police rejected their request for bail. They were identified as Pol Col Wutthichart Luensukhan, Pol Acting Sub-Lt Surasak Chan-ngao, Pol Acting Sub-Lt ChakarinLaothong, Mrs Sawong Moongthiang, Mr Chob Chinprapa and Mrs Tiyaphan Chinprapa.

Two more suspects, Mrs Sudathip Muangnuan and Mr Roengsak Saknarong are still on the run.

Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, the national police chief, is to hold a press conference tomorrow morning to divulge more details about the case against this gang.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-cib-chief-three-officers-granted-bail

-- Thai PBS 2014-11-25

Did he secure his bail with illegally obtained assets? If so, he has nothing to lose here and is free to join the rest of his wealth in Europe or elsewhere. He should never have gotten bail as he will do a 'Vatana' or a 'Thaksin'. Bribes are powerful hard to resist; especially when the briber is worth two Billion Baht. I guess the six lesser criminals didn't have enough money to OK a bail being set.

[smedly]

when you consider the huge amount of money these people were accumulating can you imagine how much the top dogs in the drug trade are reeling in and who could be involved

[ezzra]

Highly placed sourced information and wagging tongues are putting a very, very VIP people at the centre

of this story as the owners of a big casino and having the CIB boss and others collecting the proceeds

of said establishment and acting as a clearing and holding house for the loot, as well as deeply

involve in oil smuggling business in the south,

as one of the principals involved was " persuaded" to jump from " high place" and was cremated

in one day..

More inside info is available from the sources above, but can't be told on these pages...

Edited November 25, 2014 by ezzra

[KissMyAxe]

This could be the reason the troubles down South never change....

[gopis108]

It is of some comfort just to see that finally the Thai authorities are beginning to look inward rather than the tired old system of blaming the Farangs for all the ills of the country.Now lets get some changes to protect our purchases, like giving Farangs the right to own limited bits of land so that they cannot be constantly swindled or held ransom to their property by some greedy woman........................