Phuket mayor slams 'frightening' police raid on brother's home

[webfact]

Phuket mayor slams 'frightening' police raid on brother's home
Saran Mitrarat


Mayor Worawut (left) and his sister Hathairat explain their complaint to Gov Nisit.

PHUKET: -- Srisoonthorn Mayor Worawut Songyos, accompanied by more than 200 residents this morning (December 8) delivered complaint letters to officials after police tried to smash their way into the home of his brother on Wednesday (December 3), in order to arrest him.

The 20 police officers on the raid had an arrest warrant for Padungsak Songyos on a charge of issuing a bad cheque.

They did not, however, have a search warrant. Instead, they cited martial law as justification for attempting to break down the front door of the home in the Songyos family compound in Moo 7, Srisoonthorn.

Hathairat Songyos, sister of Mr Padungsak and Mr Worawut, told The Phuket News, “At that time [at 7pm], only my mother and a six-year-old child were in the house.

“They were in the back of house, and did not hear the police demands that they open up.”

Ms Hathairat herself was not at home, but said, “A neighbour called me about it and I asked them to tell the police that I would be there shortly.

“But the police rejected my request that they wait. They tried to break through the door, claiming that, under martial law, police have the authority to do that.

“In the event they could not get through the metal gate on the door,” she said.

She alleged that police told neighbours of the Songyos family that they had come with an arrest warrant on drug charges. “I was very upset that they told our neighbours that,” she added.

Mayor Worawut told the Governor that the family felt scared and threatened, especially because they knew that the officer leading the raid, Lt Col Sommai Onkum of Cherng Talay Police, is well known as a marksman.

“We have babies in houses around that area. I am concerned about our security,” the mayor said. “I’m not sure whether this action – taking place at night – might be over the top for a bounced cheque case. I would like Phuket officials to investigate it.”

Governor Nisit Jansomwong told the crowd, “Please trust that Phuket officials will not ignore this case. We will take action by assigning an impartial person to investigate the incident as soon as possible.

“This will done within 15 days and I will inform Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Patchara Boonyasit about your security concerns,” he added.

“If something related to safety happens to you, I will take responsibility for it,” he said.

A few minutes later Pol Col Witoon Gongsudjai, representing Gen Patchara, also came to meet the villagers to accept a copy of the letter.

He told them, “I can’t make any statement at this stage – I have to read the letter first. But for sure the police will investigate this matter as requested.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-mayor-slams-frightening-police-raid-on-brothers-home-50020.php


-- Phuket News 2014-12-08

[JetsetBkk]

Note to self: If I receive a cheque that bounces, let Lt Col Sommai Onkum know.

[terryp]

just another case of the police not knowing or Following the law....is there any hope for this place when these fools are acting like this over a Cheque?

[oldsailor35]

Perhaps if this family were not beyond any 'naughty' going on's then the police would have more respect for them. But the old aussie saying is................Fly with the Crows, you get shot with the Crows.

[Chicog]

just another case of the police not knowing or Following the law....is there any hope for this place when these fools are acting like this over a Cheque?

Or perhaps it was just the excuse they wanted to search the premises.....

[Just1Voice]

Shades of the Gestapo tactics.

[Pinot]

Cops are bent. Always. I have no idea what's going on here, but if they're involved...

[IamNoone88]

I doubt this is about a cheque. Something else is in play here.

[Nuddy]

The fools couldn't get through the iron gate on the door. I love it.

[wilcopops]

I think the plethora of these cases against high-ranking officials and their families and acolytes, is really more indicative of a purge of the opposition by the government.

lets see how many govt "supporters" are arrested in the next few months?

Edited December 9, 2014 by wilcopops

[Eric Loh]

Police state in the making.

[SOTIRIOS]

.....whatever the circumstances....it appears that a crime was committed...and there is an arrest warrant to be served......

....if it is fraud.....and we don't know the details or the amount....shall we plead for 'civility' suddenly....???

[bangkokheat]

if it was because of a bad cheque, he may have picked the wrong person to give it to

[2fishin2]

The country is under martial law. Oh how soon people forget and take for granted freedoms.

[thhMan]

Sure the Police acted stupidly...

BUT... Relaying messages to the neighbor to tell the Police to wait... What did she expect would happen? The police take a seat while she got off her lazy ass to answer them?

[monkey4u]

Maybe the cheque was made out to him

That would explain the excess force

I WANT MY MONEY YOU THIEF

[KIWIBATCH]

20 cops for one bounced cheque....<deleted>

[The Deerhunter]

Police state in the making.

What? A bit late for that, unless you are perhaps quoting someone else from the 1960's.

[bkkcanuck8]

It was probably a bounced tea money cheque....

[anto]

She did not hear them ?,20 police officers .She needs her ears seen to .There is far more to it than a bounced cheque i bet .

[Don Aleman]

Good to see that they are employing the same " Storm Trooper " methods on officials that they use every day on average Thai citizens and foreigners.

[whaleboneman]

Where did they buy the iron gate?

[bobthomas]

I think the plethora of these cases against high-ranking officials and their families and acolytes, is really more indicative of a purge of the opposition by the government.

lets see how many govt "supporters" are arrested in the next few months?

There is also a secondary purge of high ranking "people" that have been skimming the system and lining their own pockets in silk and filling them with Gold ...at the expense of everyone and everything.

[captspectre]

just another case of the police not knowing or Following the law....is there any hope for this place when these fools are acting like this over a Cheque?

law? at present time there is no law! martial law means that the cops an do anything they want! who is going to prosecute? the dear leader?

[Netease]

Where did they buy the iron gate?

Best come back I have seen in ages, I'll take 10

[gerry123]

Good to see that they are employing the same " Storm Trooper " methods on officials that they use every day on average Thai citizens and foreigners.

sorry i missed the bit quoting that the home belonged to an official

[cup-O-coffee]

I think the plethora of these cases against high-ranking officials and their families and acolytes, is really more indicative of a purge of the opposition by the government.

lets see how many govt "supporters" are arrested in the next few months?

Could be. I wouldn't argue that piont. The query I have is, "When and what is enough?". I mean, they are all crooked, in my view, so what is the cut off limit for being on the radar? Those little badgers trying to break in are no angels, I'll warrant.

[steelepulse]

Most mayors in Phuket do a pretty good job of lining their pockets will ill gotten gains. Perhaps they wanted to inspect the house/compound for evidence of this as in the cases of the mayor of Kata/Karon and Patong.

[greenchair]

She did not hear them ?,20 police officers .She needs her ears seen to .There is far more to it than a bounced cheque i bet .

Even if i heard them, i would not have let them in.

Woman alone with a child. 20 cops with guns. Not on your life should she let them in.

[Christie Paul]

What we have here, is a failure to communicate.