Mayor promises action over Phuket 'no receipt' official

[webfact]

Mayor promises action over Phuket 'no receipt' official
Nattapat Tuarob


Karon Stadium, with the municipality office in the centre. Image Google Street View

PHUKET: -- Karon Mayor Tawee Thongcham has promised to look into the case of a municipal officer stationed at Karon Beach who fined a foreign motorbike owner B5,000 for a parking violation but gave no receipt.

The Phuket News contacted Mayor Tawee after receiving a complaint from the motorcycle owner that after regularly parking his motorbike near Karon Beach for the past 11 years without a problem, he returned on December 12 to discover his bike had been clamped and a ticket placed on it.

The bike owner went to Karon Police Station, where he was directed to the municipal office under the Karon Stadium, close to where the bike had been parked.

There, an officer showed him a list of offences and fines under the 1992 Act to Maintain Cleanliness and Good Order of the Country, and indicated that he had violated code 17(2) – parking on public land, which comes with a maximum fine of B5,000.

Before paying the fine, the bike owner asked to see a supervisor, only to be told the supervisor wouldn’t be there until 10pm.

“I then paid the fine and asked for a receipt but was told by the officer to ‘come back tomorrow’,” said the bike owner.

After hearing about the incident, Mayor Tawee confirmed that the expat had committed a violation and that it was legitimate for him to be fined, but added that B5,000 was rather high. Normally, he said the fine would be one tenth of that: B500.

“More importantly, the fine was issued without a receipt, which is not acceptable,” said the Mayor.

“Any fine should be accompanied with a receipt. Otherwise, it is an act of dishonesty by the officer concerned,” said the Mayor.

He promised to raise the issue at his next committee meeting.

“If this happens again,” he added, “people can call me direct on 081 978 4471.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/mayor-promises-action-over-phuket-no-receipt-official-50151.php


-- Phuket News 2014-12-18

[Tatsujin]

Coincidence that it just happened to be a foreigner that was fined, whilst no doubt the 1,00's of illegally parked Thai-operated bikes also nearby were overlooked?

[NeilSA1]

A B5,000 fine seems very high for a parking offence, unless the motor bike was parked directly on top of the municipal officer...

Anyway, well done to the mayor if he follows through with his investigation.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Just fire the whole police force and start from scratch, thieves the whole lot of them.

[alfalfa19]

Almost a month's pay for many people in Thailand. The cop will simply deny it, case closed.

[samuibruno]

well the mayor had better change his number as this ones never going to stop ringing

[maidee]

and how long this scam has been going on ?

[starkey_rich]

He's probably going to investigate what happened to his cut

[4u2mad]

Of course he will just stroll into the office tomorrow and receive his 4,500bht refund with deep wais and apologies......NOT!

[fester the benevolent]

A B5,000 fine seems very high for a parking offence, unless the motor bike was parked directly on top of the municipal officer...

I'd pay 5,000 Baht to do that.

[steelepulse]

>>“Any fine should be accompanied with a receipt. Otherwise, it is an act of dishonesty by the officer concerned,” said the Mayor.

This is hilarious coming from the mayor that has been arrested twice for making a killing out of sectioning off the beaches under his control.

[madmitch]

>>“Any fine should be accompanied with a receipt. Otherwise, it is an act of dishonesty by the officer concerned,” said the Mayor.

This is hilarious coming from the mayor that has been arrested twice for making a killing out of sectioning off the beaches under his control.

Surely he issued receipts to the beach chair vendors and taxi and tuktuk drivers?

[stevenl]

Just fire the whole police force and start from scratch, thieves the whole lot of them.

Since this is not police that would not solve very much.

They have been doing this for years and years already.

[CiaranO]

It was a simple misunderstanding thats all

[Sviss Geez]

Just fire the whole police force and start from scratch, thieves the whole lot of them.

Why? There were no police involved in this incident.

[BusyB]

"He promised to raise the issue at his next committee meeting."

[Ulic]

We will have a meeting and next time we will do something about it maybe. (But for sure not)

[JetsetBkk]

Can I get the Phuket City mayor to "promise action" over the "no receipt" officials at Phuket Immigration?

(Rhetorical question, folks)

[kingalfred]

Never pay a fine on the Street. Refuse and ask to go to the local "corrupt station" to do so.

[stevenl]

Never pay a fine on the Street. Refuse and ask to go to the local "corrupt station" to do so.

Quite often there are mobile pay stations set up.

The op's case happened at their office.

Edited December 21, 2014 by stevenl