Former CIB chief taken to remand prison

[Lite Beer]

Former CIB chief taken to remand prison
The Sunday Nation

Crime-buster Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan, visibly pale and weak, is escorted by Corrections Department officials to prison after his bail request was rejected.

BANGKOK: -- Pongpat looked pale and weak at court hearing yesterday; five others in corruption scandal still sought

Former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan was sent to Bangkok Special Remand Prison yesterday after the Criminal Court rejected his request for temporary release on bail.

Pongpat, who is at the centre of a high-profile police corruption case, was brought to the prison after the court agreed to a police request for him to be detained further, as part of the police investigation.

Corrections Department director general Witthaya Suriyawong said yesterday that the disgraced crime-buster would be treated in the same way as other inmates in the prison.

Pongpat looked visibly pale and weak when police brought him to the court yesterday for the proceeding. In seeking his further detention, police investigators said they feared that he might use his influence as a senior police officer to interfere with evidence and witnesses in the case.

To date, police have arrested 17 out of 22 suspects in the case, and they are seeking five others who are still at large. Two of those arrested have been released on bail.

Pongpat, his deputy Pol Maj-General Kowit Wongrungroj, and some other suspects in the case have admitted guilt during the investigation, including the charge of lese majeste, according to police.

Large amounts of cash and rare artefacts in possession of Pongpat and other suspects have been confiscated, as well as Buddha images and amulets, gold and wood.

Meanwhile, police said yesterday three of the safes confiscated from the houses of Pongpat's family members contained no valuable items, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri said yesterday. He said it was possible that any valuables in the safes might have been removed before they were confiscated by police.

Also yesterday, police confiscated some 400 planks of coveted wood from a house in Nonthaburi whose owner is said to be a cohort of Pongpat in his ring, according to police.

In a related development, the royally-bestowed surname Akharapongpreecha has been cancelled and users have been told to change back to their previous family name, police said yesterday. Some suspects in Pongpat's case use this surname.

Prawut said that police would open three more safes, each 1.7 metres high, tomorrow - adding that they were confiscated from Pongpat's house in Chaeng Wattana. He is convinced that valuables will be found inside the safes.

Colonel Watcharin Phusit, who led to police raid on the Nonthaburi house, said that police confiscated all the wood planks and some contained Forestry Department stamp marks.

He said the owner was required to produce evidence to prove the wood was acquired legally.

Prawut said that police had received a letter from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's secretary informing them about the cancellation of the surname.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Former-CIB-chief-taken-to-remand-prison-30248865.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-30

[ukrules]

Prawut said that police had received a letter from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's secretary informing them about the cancellation of the surname.

I wonder if the full background to this will be published inside Thailand.

[englishoak]

Not a chance, but no doubt plenty here will believe its all about cleaning up corruption.

[kurnell]

Not a chance, but no doubt plenty here will believe its all about cleaning up corruption.

Yeah the corrupt cleaning up corruption.

[MJP]

These subjects are near impossible to discuss to be honest. Sorry folks, please don't be offended if your posts disappear.

There's a genuine and serious reason for it.

[KhunMoo]

Prawut said that police had received a letter from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's secretary informing them about the cancellation of the surname.

I wonder if the full background to this will be published inside Thailand.

One of the english papers in Thailand, has the story - the Thai script media, is a bit slower, it's not there yet - if it will be, i'm pretty sure most publishers will be very carefull, with this topic.

But i guess we found out, what the arrest of the CIB fat cat, and the others was about - we won't see any major cleanup. This was a isolated case.

[rametindallas]

Prawut said that police had received a letter from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's secretary informing them about the cancellation of the surname.

I wonder if the full background to this will be published inside Thailand.

That would be unpossible.

[metisdead]

Please read the following very carefully:

Any discussion of the Monarchy or members of the royal family in a political context will result in a ban. This includes vague comments that could be construed as referring to the Monarchy.

Those comments can be found here: NOTICE TO MEMBERS POSTING IN THAILAND NEWS

Also as per forum rule 1:

1) You will not express disrespect of the King of Thailand or any one member of the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution.

By law, the Thai Royal Family are above politics. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family.

Discussion of the Lese Majeste law or Lese Majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family.

To breach these rules may result in immediate ban.

Linking to external sites which break these rules will be treated as if you yourself posted them.

http://www.thaivisa....tion=boardrules

[LazarusRising]

Not sure who has the shortest life expectancy, this guy or the two Bumese from Ko Tao. Either way history has shown us that all three have most likely have just a few short brutal months left in this temporal plane. Fall guys of endemic Thai corruption and twisted Thai politics..............RIP.

[Commerce]

What's he holding onto so tighly? His last bank balance?

[Lite Beer]

Forbidden wood planks belonging to former CIB chief discovered inside private property compound

Provincial and crime suppression police impounded 400 planks of teak and maka mong wood (scientifically known as Afzelia xylocarpa Craib) after a search of a house in Bangyai district of Nonthaburi on Saturday.

The forbidden wood planks were told by the housekeeper they belonged to former CIB commissioner Pol-Lt Gen Pongpat Chayaphan.

The house belongs to a suspect Mr Chob Chinaprapha, a member of the bribery gang run by the former CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Pongpat

A search of the house which is among four houses located in the same compound found the wood planks hidden inside two containers.

Chob’s brother Sayant, caretaker of the compound, told the police all the wood planks were taken into his compound four years ago to take care of.

He said what he was told by his brother was that all the wood planks belong to Pol Lt Gen Pongpat.

A police officer in the search team said initial examination showed all the wood planks were sawn from a sawmill and some were stamped with official emblems.

He said the police would impound am the planks until owner could produce documents all the wood planks are legally acquired,

Earlier yesterday another police team searched a furniture factory at Muang Thong Thani and discovered moire than 2,800 planks of teak, maka mong, and pradoo lai woods.

All the wood planks worth more than seven million baht were confiscated.
The police are also seeking cooperation from the Fine Arts Department to join the search tea an when several items of ancient artefacts were also found inside the factory’s go down.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/forbidden-wood-planks-belonging-former-cib-chief-discovered-inside-private-property-compound

-- Thai PBS 2014-11-29

[RustBucket]

Enjoy your new home.

Must be ultra-frustrating to be locked up for stealing by people who will probably eventually steal everything you stole.

Not everyone thinks this is about stopping corruption. This is about finding people the powers that be can relieve of certain money and possessions.

[robblok]

Not a chance, but no doubt plenty here will believe its all about cleaning up corruption.

Its cleaning up corruption and neutering the Shins 2 noble causes. Now if the Shins were to release what they know about corruption of the army we might be getting somewhere. I hate corruption so its good he goes down and would applaud corrupt guys being taken down on the side that i support too.

Too bad this will probably not happen. The side that is in power usually goes after those that are corrupt on the other side. But at least some get caught.

[ezzra]

Mr Pongpat... a lot of good those ill gotten billions and artefact doing you now huh?

I bet you would have swapped those in a heart beat just to be back home again

sleeping in your own bed right?

[Commerce]

The last 2 words of the OP being highly appropriate.

[steffi]

Who is he alleged to have extorted to gain his wealth? Who was above him in the hierarchy because for sure they had protected him otherwise what stops any whistleblower coming forward?

[EyesWideOpen]

Not a chance, but no doubt plenty here will believe its all about cleaning up corruption.

Its cleaning up corruption and neutering the Shins 2 noble causes. Now if the Shins were to release what they know about corruption of the army we might be getting somewhere. I hate corruption so its good he goes down and would applaud corrupt guys being taken down on the side that i support too.

Too bad this will probably not happen. The side that is in power usually goes after those that are corrupt on the other side. But at least some get caught.

You raise an interesting point. While the military can certainly control the media

inside of Thailand, they have no control of social media outside of Thailand.

Thaksin was the true master of corruption, he better than anybody would know

exactly what was going on with corruption in the military. He may be biding his

time after the astonishing revelations of the scope of the stolen wealth of Pongpat.

Then perhaps Thaksin will release his own information in order to prepare for

his next puppet in the elections in two years....

[ezzra]

"Forbidden wood planks belonging to former CIB chief discovered inside private

property compound"

Would he be made to "walk those planks" I wonder...

[pedro01]

OK - I give it a week before his lawyer brings a doctor forward to claim he's not healthy enough to stand trial/stay in jail.

[Mango Bob]

All of this has been going on for years and no higher up knew about this. I don't think so. More heads should roll. Including or past Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police should be investigated.

[EyesWideOpen]

OK - I give it a week before his lawyer brings a doctor forward to claim he's not healthy enough to stand trial/stay in jail.

Haha think you are right. That is certainly the route Kamnan Poh , the Godfather of Chonburi,

took. Ten minutes in prison, transferred to a luxury hospital, and then all stories ceased about

him. I suspect he is relaxing in his mansion .... :-)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624162-kamnan-poh-in-critical-condition-after-fall-in-hospital-bathroom/

[rajyindee]

Mr Pongpat... a lot of good those ill gotten billions and artefact doing you now huh?

I bet you would have swapped those in a heart beat just to be back home again

sleeping in your own bed right?

I doubt that he's going to reply to you.

[metisdead]

Please read again:

Please read the following very carefully:

Any discussion of the Monarchy or members of the royal family in a political context will result in a ban. This includes vague comments that could be construed as referring to the Monarchy.

Those comments can be found here: NOTICE TO MEMBERS POSTING IN THAILAND NEWS

Also as per forum rule 1:

1) You will not express disrespect of the King of Thailand or any one member of the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution.

By law, the Thai Royal Family are above politics. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family.

Discussion of the Lese Majeste law or Lese Majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family.

To breach these rules may result in immediate ban.

Linking to external sites which break these rules will be treated as if you yourself posted them.

http://www.thaivisa....tion=boardrules

[worgeordie]

Is that Kim jon Ung masquerading as a Thai prison guard

in the picture?

regards Worgeordie

[JOC]

Not a chance, but no doubt plenty here will believe its all about cleaning up corruption.

Its cleaning up corruption and neutering the Shins 2 noble causes. Now if the Shins were to release what they know about corruption of the army we might be getting somewhere. I hate corruption so its good he goes down and would applaud corrupt guys being taken down on the side that i support too.

Too bad this will probably not happen. The side that is in power usually goes after those that are corrupt on the other side. But at least some get caught.

"There is none so blind as those who will not see"

Agree with your sentiment on corruption, but the real story is written between the lines!!

[binjalin]

Not a chance, but no doubt plenty here will believe its all about cleaning up corruption.

Its cleaning up corruption and neutering the Shins 2 noble causes. Now if the Shins were to release what they know about corruption of the army we might be getting somewhere. I hate corruption so its good he goes down and would applaud corrupt guys being taken down on the side that i support too.

Too bad this will probably not happen. The side that is in power usually goes after those that are corrupt on the other side. But at least some get caught.

you have misunderstood the 'reason' and I suggest you go and read the news 'carefully' as it cannot be discussed here openly

[MJP]

To all those who understand and have posted responsibly, thank you for being sensitive to this situation.

[JOC]

The picture in the OP made my day!!

Nice to see this piece of human garbage go down!!

Karma is a bitch!!

[Anthony5]

Enjoy your new home.

Must be ultra-frustrating to be locked up for stealing by people who will probably eventually steal everything you stole.

Not everyone thinks this is about stopping corruption. This is about finding people the powers that be can relieve of certain money and possessions.

Did you notice that coincidental the accused is getting weak right after his arrest?

What are the odds that he will get a "luxury" new home in the style of the famous Chonburi convicted murderer, who was a fugitive for 7 years or so, within a few days.

[jpeg]

Meanwhile, police said yesterday three of the safes confiscated from the houses of Pongpat's family members contained no valuable items, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri said yesterday. He said it was possible that any valuables in the safes might have been removed before they were confiscated by police.