Corruption scandal: Police find Bt2-bn in cash, valuables in secret vaults in 11 of Pongpat's homes

[Incobart]

People like that that supposed to be the helping hand of people, someone to be trusted, steeling so much, while so many poor people.. only 1 solution

hang them in public on the big area near the royal palace !

[Orac]

I suppose there will be a flurry of suitcases leaving Thailand,the contents

to be deposited overseas.in HK,Switzerland,Singapore.

These people must have been very confident that they were untouchable

up to the very last minute,as they did not do very much to hide there ill gotten

gains,

Its going to be interesting to see what happens if/when they end up in court,

regards Worgeordie

Exactly. Thailand has a patronage system so clearly this guy has lost the support of his patron. Once established where his protection was coming from and why he doesn't have it anymore this whole murky business becomes a lot clearer....mm

[IamNoone88]

I wonder all the assets were declared....... i wonder if Pongpat has a little black book as well.

[ginjag]

After you caught all the corrupt RTP go after all the unusually rich 4 star Generals. I wonder how much a promotion to General would cost here or a transfer to a staff position could cost someone.

I just had a slight idea you might bring something like this up. get real.

[EyesWideOpen]

Ummm do any of you lot know who Pongpat is related to ?

Who ?? Send me a PM.

[kamahele]

Just how could corruption on such a massive scale go unnoticed ?

Simple answer is that it couldn't so those involved must have had quite an edge such as powerful allies and protection, maybe serious black on others etc.

Not a unique situation here and quite an indictment of Thainess. Nothing will change and when a new regime is in power the only thing that will change is in who have their snouts in the trough.

Perhaps it was not unnoticed and everyone knew but this was business as usual for Thailand..... Sad story.

[gemguy]

So now you can imagine that the higher ups are thinking or saying:

"You idiot , you should have hidden your crimes much better...now big lose of face is coming our way"

[Lupatria]

They should also charge them for picking mushrooms in a forest- just to make sure they'll do some time...

Edited November 26, 2014 by Lupatria

[anto]

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Ummm do any of you lot know who Pongpat is related to ? alt=whistling.gif>

Postman Pat ?

[jabis]

Just how could corruption on such a massive scale go unnoticed ?

Simple answer is that it couldn't so those involved must have had quite an edge such as powerful allies and protection, maybe serious black on others etc.

Not a unique situation here and quite an indictment of Thainess. Nothing will change and when a new regime is in power the only thing that will change is in who have their snouts in the trough.

Perhaps it was not unnoticed and everyone knew but this was business as usual for Thailand..... Sad story.

Indeed if you look at the previous thread regarding the seizure, you'll find out that allegedly even previous national police commanders knew, but didn't do a thing about it because the accused commissioner had so much power. Whether that means leverage or something else - we'll never know

[loongdavid]

Unless the money and other assets being seized are placed into consolidated revenue and just don't disappear into a 'black hole', the question of RTP corruption will never go away. The public demand that those eventually convicted of gross misappropriation of state assets, particularly RTP members, be given the maximum gaol sentences possible.

[tingtong]

pongpat could do the honourable thing now, they did in japan

or we can handle this with the usual Thainess....and just reshuffle them.

[gemguy]

I surmise this one will be quickly swept under the rug while the media flurry will be stifled soon enough....while the public will be cut off from any further information and but a few people will know the outcome of this fiasco.

The rest of the people will be left wondering why the story went dry and hardly anything more mentioned about this particular display of police corruption.

Cheers

[JSPS]

Well, crap! With all these arrests how are you supposed to know who to bribe day to day?

[Sparkles]

A common thread amongst these low life they cant control their greed no matter they collect more money/assets than they could ever spend.I guess its a sickness "enough is never enough"

I hope they get life in the Bangkok Hilton not some favoured custodial treatment and we see more links of the chain arrested could be some interesting names .

[SOTIRIOS]

.....and the scum that condoned this...........just....will......not......let.........up.......

....citing 'freedom of speech' no less..........

[steven100]

I would like to know what they are gong to do with all that cash???????

It will get divided up evenly amongst all the senior RTP officials .....

kinda like a xmas bonus

[Scotswahay]

I don't understand why the word MAFIA had not been mentioned.

In Thailand, that word is reserved for non-police, non-military organized crime. Mafia is civilian organized crime. It is a distinction without a difference. My first Thai girlfriend's uncle runs portable casinos in Bangkok and Nakhon Sri Thammarat. I asked her directly if her family was mafia and she nodded. It is part of the Thai lexicon.

When I lived in Italy I was told there was "mafia" & "sunia". The sunia were most feared. They were the ones who had offices.

[klauskunkel]

I just can't believe it until I see the finger pointing

[Tuskfish]

While this is fantastic to see and long overdue, we must remember to not stereotype all police officers

I know two officers personally who would give their left arm to the community if they needed it and would never take a single satang they didn't earn

[JOC]

Ummm do any of you lot know who Pongpat is related to ?

Isn't that just another Thaivisa rumour, that has suddenly become the "truth".

Have been searching all over the net and found no "connection"

It must within forum rules to provide a link, so please do!!

[JOC]

While this is fantastic to see and long overdue, we must remember to not stereotype all police officers

I know two officers personally who would give their left arm to the community if they needed it and would never take a single satang they didn't earn

List them under endangered species and put them in a breeding-program!!

[Scouse123]

Great stuff... So let me get this straight. According to the graphic " They were

pretending to work as a representative of the King to seek benefits".

So these guys are running around extorting money from people,

and in order to make it go well, they invoke the name of the King ?

This place truly is Amazing Thailand......

Hence,

This is where the less majeste charges are arising from!

[Orac]

Ummm do any of you lot know who Pongpat is related to ?

Isn't that just another Thaivisa rumour, that has suddenly become the "truth".

Have been searching all over the net and found no "connection"

It must within forum rules to provide a link, so please do!!

Even AMM has only made one reference to it in a tweet as far as i have seen - a link here would definately be against the rules.

[balo]

While this is fantastic to see and long overdue, we must remember to not stereotype all police officers

I know two officers personally who would give their left arm to the community if they needed it and would never take a single satang they didn't earn

I hope that news articles like this will lead to less Thai bashing here on thaivisa . There's many good people in Thailand and that they do something to clean up the corruption that's been going on for years is a good sign for the future.

[natway09]

Jack, it has started already.

The old 500 bht note will not be legal tender after January 2016 (2559) so I read somewhere.

The 1,000 bht is next.

Interesting thing about this great bust is it all happened basically by accident while following up on something else.

The prosecution was not given much choice in how to handle it.

Does the money go into state coffers or to charity?

[chrisinth]

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After you caught all the corrupt RTP go after all the unusually rich 4 star Generals. I wonder how much a promotion to General would cost here or a transfer to a staff position could cost someone.

A friend of mine paid more than $US one million for a promotion from Pol. Lt. Col. to Pol. General about three years ago. It makes me wonder why Pol. Capt. Chalerm stayed as a Captain.

He was at the right desk at the time, interesting papers passing across it.

Rank helps for sure, but it is knowledge that is the true power..........................

[EnglishJohn]

Ummm do any of you lot know who Pongpat is related to ?

Isn't that just another Thaivisa rumour, that has suddenly become the "truth".

Have been searching all over the net and found no "connection"

It must within forum rules to provide a link, so please do!!

Try searching for ' pongpat uncle '

[EnzoRippo]

I would like to know what they are gong to do with all that cash???????

"Cash? Which cash? Journalists kind of exaggerated. It was only 22,000.00 THB and they are still at the police station." Maj Gen Somchai

[ColdSingha]

While this is fantastic to see and long overdue, we must remember to not stereotype all police officers

really? must we? it's hard to do when every one i meet is trying to shake me down or is uninterested in helping without payment Edited November 26, 2014 by ColdSingha