Pongpat, Kowit get six years each, face more charges
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FORMER Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan and a former deputy were each handed a six-year prison term yesterday over three offences linked to racketeering.

The Criminal Court initially sentenced Pongpat and former deputy CIB chief Pol Major Kowit Wongrungroj to 12 years in prison - five for lese majeste, five for malfeasance and two for illicitly operating a gambling den - but later halved the sentence citing their guilty plea.

There are four other policemen standing trial in two separate cases - which also involve Pongpat and Kowit as beneficiaries of a bribe-taking scheme.

The four pleaded not guilty in yesterday's hearing, saying they would defend themselves.

In case 291/2015, Pol Maj-General Bunsueb Phraitheun, a former Marine Police Division commander, has been indicted for taking bribes from a Yala-based fugitive businessman and handing the money to Pongpat and Kowit.

In case 292/2015, Pol Colonel Wutthichart Luensukhont, Pol Snr Sgt-Majors Surasak Jan-ngao and Jakkarin Laothong, have been indicted for demanding money from policemen seeking to be promoted or from those not wishing to be transferred. The three suspects were allegedly paid between Bt10,000 and Bt2 million a month, which was then forwarded to Pongpat and Kowit.

While facing further punishment in the two cases, Pongpat and Kowit were yesterday handed over to Corrections officials to begin serving their term, while the four others were back in court custody to further stand trial.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Pongpat-Kowit-get-six-years-each-face-more-charges-30253033.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-31

This is interesting considering those mushroom pickers were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The penal system here in Thailand is a joke....you get a 100 years, than halved for confessing

and admitting guilt, than halve again for good behavior, couple of amnesties, HM birthdays

pardons, jail over crowding issues.... and in a few years you're out.. crime dose pays in this

country, that is if you were unfortunate not to be 'transferred to inactive post....

well that was a fast trial... one day?

So after six years or (maybe 12 months) they return to their normal routine and keep most of the money they had acquired? Or has the money already been re distributed?

The time does not match the crime.

So after six years or (maybe 12 months) they return to their normal routine and keep most of the money they had acquired? Or has the money already been re distributed?

You will have to learn to read a little better.

While facing further punishment in the two cases, Pongpat and Kowit were yesterday handed over to Corrections officials to begin serving their term, while the four others were back in court custody to further stand trial.

They have gone to jail and will be facing farther charges.

In all probability there will be even more coming up as there are many strands to the web of corruption they have weaved.

The time does not match the crime.

This is only for the LM part which is only a holding charge (conviction) till the rest can be brought to court.

The time does not match the crime.

This is only for the LM part which is only a holding charge (conviction) till the rest can be brought to court.

. But not Mr Big.

No matter what extra punishment is imposed we will never know the full story about this.

It seems the corruption syndicate operated untroubled for a long time and just how was that managed ?

Then with indecent haste for Thailand there was exposure, arrests and court appearances, so why ?

i doubt i's all to do with a junta inspired clean up so we can only speculation but it would be the sort of speculation that would be banned on the forum.

well that was a fast trial... one day?

They pleaded guilty

Petty Thai punishment for major criminal racketeering by police.

well that was a fast trial... one day?

They pleaded guilty

For goodness sake, can't you and 'True Democrat' read? The one day is the not about these two but another four police just charged and awaiting trial.

I suspect by the end they will be serving serious jail time and all their assets will be confiscated.

I don't think I would want to be an ex police chief in a Thai jail.

No matter what extra punishment is imposed we will never know the full story about this.

It seems the corruption syndicate operated untroubled for a long time and just how was that managed ?

Then with indecent haste for Thailand there was exposure, arrests and court appearances, so why ?

i doubt i's all to do with a junta inspired clean up so we can only speculation but it would be the sort of speculation that would be banned on the forum.

The fast trial was in order to keep them behind bars till other charges can be brought.

There is a restriction on how long the police can keep suspects.

Petty Thai punishment for major criminal racketeering by police.

Another who has no intention of trying to understand, this conviction is only for the LM charge not about the rest which will come later.

If you look at the picture he has a small towel,his hand and bottle of water placed to hide the handcuffs.

Trying to save face?

This is interesting considering those mushroom pickers were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

And they didn't even get to keep the mushrooms.

Plenty more years to come I am sure. The snowball is just starting to roll.

The penal system here in Thailand is a joke....you get a 100 years, than halved for confessing

and admitting guilt, than halve again for good behavior, couple of amnesties, HM birthdays

pardons, jail over crowding issues.... and in a few years you're out.. crime dose pays in this

country, that is if you were unfortunate not to be 'transferred to inactive post....

Don't know much about how the legal system actually works here regarding amnesties and pardons, do you? As for admitting guilt and good behaviour reducing sentences every other legal system in the world operates on exactly the same basis. So, no, the joke is not Thailand, it's you.

So after six years or (maybe 12 months) they return to their normal routine and keep most of the money they had acquired? Or has the money already been re distributed?

Same as every other criminal, after the sentence has been served they are released. You obviously have missed that most of the proceeds of his crimes have been confiscated. In the case of this man there are other charges to be heard yet and any sentence he gets for those will be added on to this one.

This is interesting considering those mushroom pickers were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Thailand has one of the most politicized judicial systems in the world, if not the most politicized. Whoever is in power has friends let off and opponents sent to the brig,

This form of corruption makes the rice scheme and subsidizing private schools look like a grain of sand in the Sahara. Rather than tackling this corruption that undermines faith, continuity and even the evasive term justice, the current government is participating while simultaneously claiming to be fighting corruption.

No analyst outside these borders is buying into it. Neighbors are just either saying no comment or giving support (like the Chinese).

Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss....same selective enforcement, same cronyism...just a different crowd (mob is more like it).

Mega-corrupt top cop jailed for six years

BANGKOK: Disgraced former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chayapan and five other policemen were sentenced to 12 years in jail yesterday (January 30) for lèse majesté and involvement in the running of casinos.

The sentences were halved to six years because all the officers pleaded guilty.

The six men had already pleaded guilty in four cases at Bangkok’s Criminal Court, but the judge’s sentence yesterday applied only to the lèse majesté and illegal casino cases.

The former policemen are also accused of taking bribes from oil smugglers and demanding bribes from CIB officers in exchange for promotions and transfers – to which they have also pleaded guilty.

The six were taken to the court from Bangkok Remand Prison on Ngam Wong Wan Rd after prosecutors filed the charges against them in three cases on Thursday (January 29).

In the first case, Pongpat, 58, and his former deputy, ex-Pol Maj Gen Kowit Wongroongroj, 59, were charged with lèse majesté, malfeasance and provision for gambling.

Prosecutors identified the Colonze gambling den, a large casino in Bangkok’s Wang Thong Lang district, which has since been closed.

On the lèse majesté charge, the duo allegedly put a Royal Crest pin on their epaulets and put a badge bearing the portrait of HRH Prince Rasmijoti Dhipankara, the son of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and former Princess Srirasmi, on their left pockets at all times, to indicate that the casino they were protecting had the backing of the palace.

In the second case, Pongpat, Kowit and ex-Pol Maj Gen Boonsueb Praithuen, 55, a former Marine Police chief, were charged with soliciting and accepting bribes, malfeasance and lèse majesté.

The indictment said some oil smugglers in the Gulf of Thailand paid Kowit, who then transferred the money to his boss, in exchange for not arresting them. The total amount received was B147.4 million.

The indictment also stated they committed lèse majesté because they wore police uniforms with a badge bearing HRH Prince Rasmijoti Dhipankara’s portrait on the pockets when they solicited the bribes.

Boonsueb also allegedly pointed to the badge and claimed the bribes would be submitted to their supervisor and then to the prince.

In the third case, Pongpat, Kowit and Pol Col Vutthichart Luensukan, 46, a former chief of the police Consumer Protection Division, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Surasak Channgao, 50, and Pol Snr Sgt Maj Chattrin Laothong, 48, were accused of receiving bribes for transfers and promotions at the CIB.

They demanded B3-5 million each from officers who wanted to be favoured. The officers then paid them in instalments ranging from B10,000 to B2 million a month.

After the judge read the charges, the six former policemen pleaded guilty to all charges. The court will hear prosecution witnesses in two other cases on February 23.

After Pongpat was arrested at the end of November last year, the country was riveted by pictures on TV and in the press of huge amounts of cash, gold and valuable art and religious objects found in safes and bricked into the walls of his eleven homes.

-- Phuket Gazette 2015-01-31

The penal system here in Thailand is a joke....you get a 100 years, than halved for confessing

and admitting guilt, than halve again for good behavior, couple of amnesties, HM birthdays

pardons, jail over crowding issues.... and in a few years you're out.. crime dose pays in this

country, that is if you were unfortunate not to be 'transferred to inactive post....

Still better than in the west, where you don't go into jail after stabing someone, because you had a bad childhood in some other country.

Nice precedent. Now convict and sentence Yingluck and her crew next. then a good time to go after Chalerm and Tarit. There is a lot of work to do here boys.

Bleed the country of hundreds of millions of baht, LM conviction and extortion......six years.

Pick wild mushrooms in a National Park.....15 years.

The penal system here in Thailand is a joke....you get a 100 years, than halved for confessing

and admitting guilt, than halve again for good behavior, couple of amnesties, HM birthdays

pardons, jail over crowding issues.... and in a few years you're out.. crime dose pays in this

country, that is if you were unfortunate not to be 'transferred to inactive post....

Yes......I do agree........the penal system and may be the laws here is a kind of a joke...........

5 years for the lèse majesté charge..........................

This is interesting considering those mushroom pickers were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Could this be the "Thainess" they keep talking about?

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Bleed the country of hundreds of millions of baht, LM conviction and extortion......six years.
Pick wild mushrooms in a National Park.....15 years.

Agree, much harsher penalties abound for lesser crimes.

It surprises me that the court did not give a harsher penalty:

- Because it is clearly deserved.

- To display that ex senior cops with high connections are not given special treatment. And therefore a warning to other cops.

- There is also the argument that cops should automatically get harsher sentences.

So after six years or (maybe 12 months) they return to their normal routine and keep most of the money they had acquired? Or has the money already been re distributed?

that questions is really worthwhile