Top Thai police linked to unrest, oil smuggling

[EnglishJohn]

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 it hasn't suddenly appeared on anyone's radar and the question can be easily answered.

Thaksin has spent the past 15+ years installing his own (paid for) men and women in the ranks of the Police and other Govt agencies, with all of them protecting each other.

Nothing was done because they were all making too much money whilst always claiming they were doing it for "the people".

Simple.

Yup - and every red-shirt lives with the dream that he can join that payroll too.

[Benmart]

inactive post would be my bet

Inactive posts, to my understanding, are intended as a method to remove the suspect from any position of authority and to closely monitor his whereabouts and activity. This gives supervisors, and others, ample time, to collect information and evidence for presentation to the prosecutor.

If anyone has additonal information about this mechanism, other than speculation, please share it.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

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.

Wow! A foreigner with a Thai friend in a position of prominence but makes public what is uttered to him in private. Your high Thai friend should reevaluate his friendships. I would.

[Suffinator]

Shocked, stunned and amazed ... unfortunately none of these apply to me. Nothing will come of this, maybe an inactive post and then retirement on full pension (like they need it). After that it'll get swept under the carpet. Whilst corruption, regardless of the scale, remains acceptable then the corrupt will continue stealing.

Maybe it's time we stopped talking about it .... just read an article - http://meebal.com/time-lay-thai-military-government/ and maybe the author has a point.

[sweatalot]

Unbelievable

Make this known to the civilized world

together with the Koh Thao scandal

[SunsetT]

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 given his anti corruption history outlined above, maybe he has now been framed in revenge......TIT!

[Doc46]

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???

This happened very quick ,,,they have not had the time to share the haul and to agree on what/how much was going to be in the news

[In Search of Space]

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???

I want to see pointing fingers

[quandow]

Isn't "Corrupt Thai Police" a redundant term?

[novo58]

I will happily volunteer to actually count it all ...........................for the usual bank charge of 10%

[loonodingle]

One of the problems is so many people have something on so many other people. Most have their nose in the trough.

[abitmiffed]

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

Ironic really, the corupt busting the corupt, nothing more than a shake up and out with the old and in with the new corupt.

[Pundi6446]

Hang the BASTARDS

[davidmann]

as kid i thought lonnie donegane was rubbish saw him in cocert in Cornwall in my old age thought he was great with Van Morris ,both great ,police in thailand is there one that is no corrupt

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

[lensta]

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'

The problem in Thailand is that when one criminal is removed from his position,

another criminal takes his place, just someone else turn at the trough.

[Frank James]

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.

Depends on which good ol' boy network you are affiliated with, and who's up/who's down at any particular time. The Big Wheel keeps going round 'n round.

[mojorison]

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 it hasn't suddenly appeared on anyone's radar and the question can be easily answered.

Thaksin has spent the past 15+ years installing his own (paid for) men and women in the ranks of the Police and other Govt agencies, with all of them protecting each other.

Nothing was done because they were all making too much money whilst always claiming they were doing it for "the people".

Simple.

Yup - and every red-shirt lives with the dream that he can join that payroll too.

I'm not sure who's saying what here... but this structure in the south has been going on a long time, and pretty well enshrines the yellow shirts ideology. (Same on Koh Tao... it is part of the yellow mechanism). It embodies unconscionable, unassailable, pure power. No one can stand up to it. It runs right to the top and can only be defeated in one way.

[EnglishJohn]

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 it hasn't suddenly appeared on anyone's radar and the question can be easily answered.

Thaksin has spent the past 15+ years installing his own (paid for) men and women in the ranks of the Police and other Govt agencies, with all of them protecting each other.

Nothing was done because they were all making too much money whilst always claiming they were doing it for "the people".

Simple.

Yup - and every red-shirt lives with the dream that he can join that payroll too.

I'm not sure who's saying what here... but this structure in the south has been going on a long time, and pretty well enshrines the yellow shirts ideology. (Same on Koh Tao... it is part of the yellow mechanism). It embodies unconscionable, unassailable, pure power. No one can stand up to it. It runs right to the top and can only be defeated in one way.

It can indeed only be defeated in one way : by a political party being elected which truly attempts to serve the people and the country. When this corrupt society can produce such a person, it might happen.

However, I suspect you think that it means Thaksin and the red-shirts again and your 'defeated in one way' means to take what you want and intimidate opponents with terrorism and grenades.

Take that huge chip off your shoulder and wake up.

[spidermike007]

Many of us are eternally hopeful that a big dog like this will be arrested, tried, and sentenced to a massive prison term, with massive fines levied on him and his family both. The only way reform and change can take place in this country is if the judiciary starts showing they are serious by handing down massive sentences to men like this one, who have polluted this country for decades.

[tbthailand]

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'

not really what I meant.

The top cop, Somyot, was given that position due to his loyalties regarding the 'PM'. Somyot himself is incredibly wealthy - hmmm, just like these guys.

For something like this to be done, it's probably either political or revenge. Or both.

[nithisa78]

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???

Kind of a no brainer. This is a sad day. The fact that they were police officers is secondary. First is, they were criminals who were able to get work as police officers.

It is black eye for all of us.

[Johnnie99]

Robbing the poor to pay the rich.

[mojorison]

Yup - and every red-shirt lives with the dream that he can join that payroll too.

I'm not sure who's saying what here... but this structure in the south has been going on a long time, and pretty well enshrines the yellow shirts ideology. (Same on Koh Tao... it is part of the yellow mechanism). It embodies unconscionable, unassailable, pure power. No one can stand up to it. It runs right to the top and can only be defeated in one way.

It can indeed only be defeated in one way : by a political party being elected which truly attempts to serve the people and the country. When this corrupt society can produce such a person, it might happen.

However, I suspect you think that it means Thaksin and the red-shirts again and your 'defeated in one way' means to take what you want and intimidate opponents with terrorism and grenades.

Take that huge chip off your shoulder and wake up.

You read it the wrong way. I agree with you that it will take a special person. I put the reds and the yellows and their leaders in the same basket. With the belief that if you are not part of the solution, the you are part of the problem. Thaksin, Abhisit, the general... all of them and their endless line of cronies are part of the problem. They are all self-serving pigs, in the words of some Aussie politician, "a conga line of suckholes". Yes they need one righteous person to stand up. But it also requires a sea-change in contemporary Thai establishment from the judiciary to the constabulary, the bureaucracy etc etc. That day, as sure as the nose on my face is going to come.

[mojorison]

It can indeed only be defeated in one way : by a political party being elected which truly attempts to serve the people and the country. When this corrupt society can produce such a person, it might happen.

However, I suspect you think that it means Thaksin and the red-shirts again and your 'defeated in one way' means to take what you want and intimidate opponents with terrorism and grenades.

Take that huge chip off your shoulder and wake up.

FWIW, I don't have a chip... in fact quite the contrary. My family is in the top 5% and firmly entrenched in the traditional mechanism, but that's not our fault... I just want to see a Thailand with law and order.

[SPB65]

Another day another Thai police corruption scandal. This is business as usual for such a sleazy country and culture beyond control or limits. Nothing is surprising anymore, it's really just tedium in the extreme. It seems that most Thais don't really care and accept the natural order of what they've created within their ridiculous culture, most expats clearly don't care while they choose to live there and enjoy the benefits (wink wink) that Thailand has to offer. And so it will go on. Thai Police corruption is normal and by now barely newsworthy at all. Its all numbing rather than shocking.

[BlackJack]

I can accept that most Government Departments are corrupt

HOWEVER, I draw the line in the sand at supporting insurgents in the South.

[bkkworker]

This case is much more appalling that meets the eye. Many state that this is a good beginning towards ‘cleaning up corruption’, unfortunately, it has nothing at all to do with corruption. There are some here that believe that the most corrupt are at the top of the ‘food chain’. Others believe that there are no top positions held that are corruption free. One thing can be agreed upon and that is that corruption is rife in Thailand. With that said then why is there so little being done about it. The goal is not go clean corruption otherwise you would see much more activity in the courts in regard to it.

So what is this case about? If you look at family relations of the commissionaire then things become less opaque. Currently there is a squabble of the highest magnitude going on and the good commissionaire is just tainted with the wrong blood. The house is being cleaned.

If you understand that to be true, then you can begin to understand why this case is so appalling. If a house is being cleaned then the corruption charge is just a means to an end. You begin to understand that it is not only quite easy to cleanse the land of corruption, but that corruption is pandemic, known and there is utterly no will to remove corruption from the rank and file.

From this vantage point you begin to understand also that the ‘bail’ is not for the charges related to corruption at all but for the ‘other’ underpinning reasons that are actually taking place.

[Bluespunk]

I can accept that most Government Departments are corrupt

HOWEVER, I draw the line in the sand at supporting insurgents in the South.

Going to disagree slightly.

For me what they did was much worse.

Supporting something, no matter how wrong or vile, at least shows a level of commitment and willingness to act in the name of a cause.

These scum just wanted money and profit and did not give a toss who got hurt as long as they benefited financially.

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed as well as the replies.

[JOC]

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 it hasn't suddenly appeared on anyone's radar and the question can be easily answered.

Thaksin has spent the past 15+ years installing his own (paid for) men and women in the ranks of the Police and other Govt agencies, with all of them protecting each other.

Nothing was done because they were all making too much money whilst always claiming they were doing it for "the people".

Simple.

Hate to spoil your day, but the biggest crook of them all Pongsat was installed by Abhisit in 2010!!