Art, fine wine: Thai auction puts police corruption on view

[webfact]

Art, fine wine: Thai auction puts police corruption on view
By JOCELYN GECKER

BANGKOK (AP) — At a military base outside Bangkok, soldiers stand guard over Buddha statues, showcases of Rolex watches and some very expensive French wine — a $4,000 bottle of Petrus and choice vintages of Dom Perignon.

It all belonged to a man who led Thailand's equivalent of the FBI and is now serving 31 years in prison on corruption and other convictions. A four-day auction that opened Thursday features a small portion of the 27,000 items police say they seized from longtime Central Investigation Bureau head Lt. Gen. Pongpat Chayapan.

Authorities have expressed shock over Pongpat's misdeeds, but the Thai public is mainly astonished that someone so powerful actually got caught. Those who study corruption in Thailand say the case is a window into the graft that pervades Thai society and is particularly prominent in the police force.

Police accuse Pongpat of leading a network responsible for offenses including money laundering, extortion and taking bribes from oil smugglers, illegal gambling dens and police officers seeking promotions. Pongpat was also convicted of insulting the monarchy because police said he claimed links to the monarchy to carry out the crimes.

"This is a very, very unusual case. There could not be another one like it," said police Col. Seehanat Prayoonrat, head of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, which is organizing the public auction.

The sale has been divided into two parts, each featuring 1,000 lots with items from the first auction valued at 50 million baht ($1.5 million). A second sale is scheduled for later this month.

Since Pongpat and several other police officials were arrested in November, authorities say they discovered assets worth more than 1 billion baht, or $30 million, including 104 plots of land and a massive art stash that was hidden in underground vaults and safe houses. Much of it is not up for auction, including 12th-century Buddhist statues that have been turned over to Thailand's Fine Arts Department, and ivory tusks, gold bars, luxury cars and diamond jewelry held by the anti-money-laundering agency.

"It's frightening. Surprising, how one person can do a thing like this," said Seehanat, saying that police typically find smaller stashes in corruption crackdowns. "Usually we find 10 cars. This time we found more than 20,000 pieces."

Pongpat had more time to accumulate wealth than many top-level Thai police officials, who typically rotate posts every two years. Pongpat held the top bureau job for several years, perhaps because of his family connections, according to police and other experts.

Still, analysts including Jomdet Trimek, a police officer turned academic, cast doubt on police claims that Pongpat's actions were unique.

"Was I surprised? I'm surprised there was eventually an arrest. A big general has never been arrested. But there was only an arrest because this was an order from up above that made it happen," said Jomdet, a professor of criminology at Bangkok's Rangsit University.

"Corruption is part of our police culture. This is a known fact. It is the norm and everyone takes part in it," said Jomdet. "Not everyone has the chance to be as corrupt as Pongpat. But the big bosses have a lot of money — that doesn't come from their salaries."

The junta that has ruled Thailand since toppling an elected government last May claims it is prioritizing the fight against corruption. Critics say the army's real goal is to cripple political allies of self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, also on grounds of corruption and insulting the monarchy.

Senior police officials have started warning the lower ranks to clean up their act.

Last week in a chandeliered ballroom at the National Police Club, Thailand's chief of police, Somyot Pumpanmuang, led an anti-corruption seminar that focused on the well-known graft among lower-ranking officers. He dimmed the lights to show a video taken by hidden cameras of police extorting bribes from motorists and businesses.

"We cannot deny the existence of bribery and corruption," Somyot told his audience of 600 rank-and-file officers. Then he opened the floor to questions and asked for suggestions on how to end corruption. Nobody in the audience raised a hand.

"Please serve the people," Somyot told his officers. "And most importantly, obey the law."

He never mentioned Pongpat but referred to him on the sidelines as "a unique case" and "an extraordinary case." He laughed off a question about whether corruption persists at the top levels.
___

Associated Press writer Thanyarat Doksone contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-03-05

[Fiddlesticks]

"We cannot deny the existence of bribery and corruption," Somyot told his audience of 600 rank-and-file officers. Then he opened the floor to questions and asked for suggestions on how to end corruption. Nobody in the audience raised a hand.

Perhaps this shows that none of the rank and file police WANT bribery and corruption ended. Why kill the golden goose? Also shows that these 600 rank and file should not be allowed to continue as police officers.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Fiddlesticks

[ratcatcher]

I imagine our man Chalerm has a bid on the chateau Petrus and maybe even the Dom Perignon.

[lildragon]

So much I wanna say about this, shame I can't.

[Gsxrnz]

I wonder how many BIB's were bidding on the stuff at the auction?

[tingtongfarang]

If they want a true police force they will have to accept at some point the only way is to kick all of them out...every single one of them, and start again, the rtp at the moment cannot be described as a police force or law enforcers.

[tomacht8]

Pongpat had more time to accumulate wealth than many top-level Thai police officials,.........

So who are the other top-level Thai police officials?

[AZBill]

And who gets the proceeds?

[tukkytuktuk]

This is nothing, just wait for the corrupt armed forces auction coming soon. A hot air balloon and second hand mine detectors are up for sale. Not true, just having fun, but is this hatred for the Thai police a good idea? Forgive and forget and let's get on with the future, revenge is not always the answer. Reconciliation, Thai unity, peace and harmony, one common cause, the police are just doing their job, not all are evil.

[taony]

Edit. Better left unsaid.

Edited March 5, 2015 by taony

[falangjim]

They don't call 'em pigs for nothing.

[berybert]

"We cannot deny the existence of bribery and corruption," Somyot told his audience of 600 rank-and-file officers. Then he opened the floor to questions and asked for suggestions on how to end corruption. Nobody in the audience raised a hand.

Perhaps this shows that none of the rank and file police WANT bribery and corruption ended. Why kill the golden goose? Also shows that these 600 rank and file should not be allowed to continue as police officers.

Or if he expected someone to answer the question he would not have asked it ?

[rametindallas]

"A big general has never been arrested"

This is just one of the many reasons General Prayut will go down in history as one of Thailand's greatest PM and he's just getting started. I hope he stays in the job for at least five more years.

[rametindallas]

This is nothing, just wait for the corrupt armed forces auction coming soon. A hot air balloon and second hand mine detectors are up for sale. Not true, just having fun, but is this hatred for the Thai police a good idea? Forgive and forget and let's get on with the future, revenge is not always the answer. Reconciliation, Thai unity, peace and harmony, one common cause, the police are just doing their job, not all are evil.

is this hatred for the Thai police a good idea?

Just curious, but why does one need hatred to enforce the law?

the police are just doing their job

[webfact]

AMLO's auction a big success
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM,
PIYANUT TAMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION

Hopes to rake in Bt130 million; items seized from former CIB chief Pongpat among those under the hammer

BANGKOK: -- MANY ANTIQUES and other expensive items, including those seized from the network of former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat Chayapan, sold like hot cakes on the first day of the auction organised by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO).

The office expected to earn Bt130 million from the auction yesterday, far exceeding the items' initial estimated value of Bt50 million. It was later yesterday conclued that the first day auction sold a total of 220 items and earned Bt15.7 million.

Some 500 bidders showed up at the "1st Anti-Money Laundering Auction to Return Money to the Country", which will run until Sunday at the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, in Bangkok's Lak Si district. Deputy Justice Minister Nivat Meenayotin officially opened the event yesterday.

The most expensive item bought at the auction was a set of four Rolex wristwatches, the starting price of which was set at Bt950,000, but bought by an unnamed bidder for Bt1.5 million.

Some of the items were sold at two or three times their original price.

However, some 21 items - many of them expensive watches - were held back after the former owners wrote in to protest.

AMLO has put some 1,000 seized items up for sale and will be auctioning as many as 250 objects per day. Most of these items are antique furniture, paintings, sculptures, silverware, chinaware, watches and wine.

So far, 1,159 bidders have registered with a total of Bt13.4 million in guarantee money.

The most expensive item in the auction is a century-old oil painting, with the starting price set at Bt15 million. However, no bidders have shown any interest in it yet.

AMLO chief Srihanart Prayoonrat said proceeds from the auction would go into the agency's bank account.

He also explained that if any item auctioned is found to have been unlawfully acquired, then the amount earned from its sale would be added to the country's coffers.

However, he said, if any item is found to have been lawfully acquired, then the former owner would be given the proceeds earned from the auction of the item plus interest.

He also confirmed that none of the items would be recalled from the new owners.

Piraya Puttikamontham, a 39-year-old bidder, who bought the first item that went under the hammer - a sandstone Buddha image - said she thought it was a valuable antique and in good condition. The item had a starting price of Bt120,000, while she bought it for Bt270,000.

Saying that though she did not know how much the item was worth, Piraya said she had bought it to help AMLO "return money to the country".

Pongpat has been sentenced to 10 years in jail, while his five other accomplices received lesser penalties in a money-laundering case.

A second round of auction will be held from March 23-26 and those interested can check out the items on March 21 and 22.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/AMLOs-auction-a-big-success-30255424.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-06

[chooka]

And who gets the proceeds?

The Army as they own the country.

[sawati]

Nobody in the audience raised a hand.

They were afraid somebody could begin pointing fingers...

[wabothai]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Pongpat had more time to accumulate wealth than many top-level Thai police officials,.........

So who are the other top-level Thai police officials?

Yeah, let's have it !

[MuuDaeng]

"This is a very, very unusual case. There could not be another one like it,"

[BestBitterPhuket]

I guess the assets at the corruption auction are largely bought up with corrupt money as to continue the cycle...

Edited March 6, 2015 by BestBitterPhuket

[ratcatcher]

If they want a true police force they will have to accept at some point the only way is to kick all of them out...every single one of them, and start again, the rtp at the moment cannot be described as a police force or law enforcers.

"...described as a police force..."

There are only 2 vowels between force and farce.

[Lupatria]

He never mentioned Pongpat but referred to him on the sidelines as "a unique case" and "an extraordinary case." He laughed off a question about whether corruption persists at the top levels.

Well if things go "wrong" or the wind changes, he can always claim he was talking about ghosts and evil spirits causing the mess.

[kannot]

"there could not be another one like it" .........................OSTRICH....yeah right!!!!

[Kiwi1]

I have been told that the ordinary Thai police are very poorly paid and practice petty corruption to make ends meet.

I do not know the facts, but once stayed in a guest house where my room overlooked a compound with two or three police families living there. They certainly lived a very modest life style, even by Thai standards.

Has anybody information on the working conditions of rank and file Thai police?

[Strangebrew]

I protest you selling my Rolex watch that I forced a farang to hand over to let him go for crime I made up he committed.

[Shaunduhpostman]

If I'm not mistaken, there were some alleged Cambodian 12th century relics, or whenever the classic Khmer epoch was, that were among this guy's cache. The relics were re-patriated to CAmbodia and we saw the report in the media, something along the lines of, "CAmbodia says 'Gee, thanks for the fakes Thailand!'"

The point is, buyer beware, may be a few more in there they are trying to auction.

Edited March 6, 2015 by Shaunduhpostman

[Shiver]

"...but the Thai public is mainly astonished that someone so powerful actually got caught"

ROFLMAO

Corruption is HI-So then is it?

[mca]

"This is a very, very unusual case. There could not be another one like it,"

Because we know where not to stick our snouts in too deep.