Whacko cop picks wrong target in Phuket

[joboss]

Me thinks that both the governor and the oddball police guy along with the rest at the the police station should first be sacked and then arrested.

Huh? Have you thought this through? How can they arrest anyone if they have been sacked?

[sfokevin]

The headline should read "Crazy man tried to make the privliged follow the law"...

[mikiea]

The title seems wrong... shouldn't it read.

Thai Policeman does his job - Phuket Governor believes he is above the law.

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An example of all that is wrong in Thai society today: When those with power and money behave as they do setting the tone and example of 'entitlement' to all who follow...

do not pretend to know where you are from skippy , but in all countries the gov parks where he wants , so stop the whine .

[mikiea]

Well I'm at it...

Unless there is another news report with more info, nowhere does it say the unstable cop brandished a weapon nor even had one... Where is that coming from space members?

And, what's wrong with him working a menial job at the station and being paid while on medical/psychiatric leave? I feel like I live on another planet to some of y'all!!

Nothing wrong with that at all.

That's not what he was doing though, he was out in public in a different province, in uniform he shouldn't have been wearing, giving out tickets he has no remit to issue and falsely claiming to be the head of police.

How he was able to be in a position to do this when his superiors clearly knew he had psychiatric issues is the question.

good god tv peeps never stop whining , this forum used to be interesting and funny .....now seems like cry babies overran common sense and found a place to squat .

[rijb]

He announced “Even Prime Minister Prayuth [Chan-Ocha] listens to my orders! How dare you oppose me?”

Sounds like Suthep.

[Benmart]

Mr Somporn had parked the governor’s black Toyota Camry in a red-and-white no-parking zone

Hope he gets a ticket for that, should know better !

Seems secondary to the other incident.

[Benmart]

He announced “Even Prime Minister Prayuth [Chan-Ocha] listens to my orders! How dare you oppose me?”

Sounds like Suthep.

Some find an opportunity to bring politics into the story, however remote the connection.

[rijb]

He announced “Even Prime Minister Prayuth [Chan-Ocha] listens to my orders! How dare you oppose me?”

Sounds like Suthep.

Some find an opportunity to bring politics into the story, however remote the connection.

Politics have nothing to do with it. I just compared two idiots.

BTW: Isn't Suthep out of politics?

Edited May 7, 2015 by rijb

[Gunna]

Some of you are nuttier than the "cop"... or just lack any knowledge of the rules of the road. A no parking zone IS NOT a no stopping zone. It is legal to stop there if you are behind the wheel of the car (which the chauffeur was). It is illegal to stop and leave your car unattended - hence "parking". There was NO infraction peeps. Neither the Gov, nor his driver were doing anything wrong. So get over the hi-so bashing!

Where did you get this BS about parking on red and white stripes is ok if a driver is still in the car.

Parking is parking, stopping for pax is temporary loading or unloading

Why don't you read Thailand's rules for curb painting.

Curbsides

A red and white curbside means no parking.

A yellow and white curbside means no parking, but temporary loading/unloading of goods or passengers is allowed.

Curbsides can also be painted in black and white, to help distinguish them. Parking may be allowed, watch for the signs (and also watch for anyone who might be upset if you park).

Curbs that have red and white stripes are also off limit.

So back on your bike Mike

This is just another Thai HISO who thought he could ignore the rules

[richard_smith237]

The title seems wrong... shouldn't it read.

Thai Policeman does his job - Phuket Governor believes he is above the law.

------

An example of all that is wrong in Thai society today: When those with power and money behave as they do setting the tone and example of 'entitlement' to all who follow...

haha brilliant - one minor traffic infringement represents ALL THAT IS WRONG IN THAI SOCIETY ?!!!!! So nothing to do with people trafficking, corruption and animal cruelty then !

You should try London mate when the queen has some minor royal from a country no one has heard of for a cup of tea and London has to come to a standstill to let them through - or the minor UK royals who park outside Harrods on a Saturday snarling up the traffic AND get hordes of police to guard the car - parking ticket ? yeah right !!

I think that chip on your shoulder is weighing you down chap !

You raise valid points but remain fundamentally flawed in your disagreement by misquoting me out of context in your haste to disagree... the point is that this issue is 'an example of all that is wrong'... rather than a sweeping finite statement - reading comprehension 101.

... The 'above the law' mentality is 'the example' of all that is wrong in Thai Society today (and not just Thai society, many)... This lack of responsibility and accountability manifests itself into far worse issues. As you have mentioned, trafficking, corruption, animal cruelty and a multitude of other issues...

This 'above the law' mentality as reported (one minor traffic infringement) is one minor example, yet the 'tip of the iceberg', the 'thin end of the wedge'... visible throughout society in corruption, lawlessness, disregard for safety (roads etc)....

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An example for you: A friend of mine while driving with his boss was pulled over at the Toll station (expressway) after being flagged for speeding. They were given a ticket, then his boss handed over a 500B to the Police Officer, not as a bribe, but as a 'tip' for a job well done explaining who they were (apparently the speeding ticket still stood, but I'm skeptical on that matter !).

My friend asked his boss why he did that, instead of just pulling rank and waving the officer away... my friend suggested that the Police officer should have recognised him [the Boss (passenger)], after all his face is posted in every Police Station in Thailand (Top 10 ranking officers in Thailand), his boss replied that he doesn't expect every policeman to remember him, but he expects them to do their job properly and thus felt no compulsion to reprimand or make an awkward situation for someone no matter how junior for simply doing their job.

IMO - this is a positive example of what is right, when people ego's are not masking their humanity. This benevolence maybe commonplace but is less recognisable than those who's ego's lead the charge, those who are in it for themselves...

So, do I have a Chip on my Shoulder Benroon? Yes, I do, so do many of my Thai friends, so do many of my Western Friends, So do many ThaiVisa.com forum members... We have this chip on our shoulder because we see this behaviour and similar acts of entitlement on a regular basis, we see how damaging such behaviour is to the society around us.... A society we are part of and love.

However, you call it a 'chip'... we call it an opinion and don't use it against others when attempting to polish the negative.

[richard_smith237]

The title seems wrong... shouldn't it read.

Thai Policeman does his job - Phuket Governor believes he is above the law.

------

An example of all that is wrong in Thai society today: When those with power and money behave as they do setting the tone and example of 'entitlement' to all who follow...

do not pretend to know where you are from skippy , but in all countries the gov parks where he wants , so stop the whine .

Correct - When on official duty with an escort... otherwise, as any other member of the society they represent and work for they are subject to exactly the same traffic laws....

Ok, a little reality is required: 'Pleb Gate' - For those not from the UK (now you know, 'skippy'!) - a British MP became a little overzealous and vocal with his use of power in a verbal altercation with a Police man... (the MP later resigned and paid £80,000 in damages).

So, yes - many probably do use their position to their advantage. Do they do so as commonly as we see here in Thailand ? Does this filter down to everyday folk? i.e. the business man in a Merc double parking outside a 7-11 with total disregard for those behind him and a 'so what attitude' ?....

Nothing wrong with a little 'on topic' whine by the way... the world isn't perfect, a good old fashioned whine never really hurt anyone... But, if you did take offence... sorry - read a more positive thread.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

He announced “Even Prime Minister Prayuth [Chan-Ocha] listens to my orders! How dare you oppose me?”

Sounds like Suthep.

“Even Prime Minister Prayuth [Chan-Ocha] listens to my orders! How dare you oppose me?”

Classy will try that next time when I get pulled over for "speeding"

[RasiMike]

Does he still carry his weapon?

I was wondering the same thing

[tracker1]

Moved to an inactive post !

[Mot Dang]

Nice that they let the observed nutters keep possession of a uniform. Care in the community.

It is quite common in Thailand for retired police and army officers to keep their uniforms and wear them to civic and social functions. And it is also common for them to state their old rank on their personal business cards, but without the {retired} extension. They still demand that prestige they once had.

[fareastguy]

Quote:

In fact he is no longer on active police duty but has a job helping out in the cells in Thai Muang police station.
It is not yet clear how the case involving the governor will be handled.

Dare I suggest that the next time he's on cleaning duty somebody closes the cell door behind him !!!

[kiwikeith]

The guy might be a bit nutty, but he is correct in trying to enforce the no parking red and white zones. Now if only the real police would do that.......................

Exactly right! but as he has a psychotic disorder he may have forgotten to be corrupted .

[Nemesis7]

So Royal Thai Police is allowing a mentally handicaped person to work for them as LT. Col. Super... Amazing thailand.

[Johnny S]

A nutty cop and a Gov above the law - did I see this soap on channel 3 ...

[cookee68]

He is a cop, only the BIB don't know what to do yet, so lets say he is a lunatic, job done

[featography]

Mr Somporn had parked the governor’s black Toyota Camry in a red-and-white no-parking zone

Hope he gets a ticket for that, should know better !

It is permitted to be next to a red/white curb as long as driver is behind the wheel, waiting to drop off or pick someone up. The ticket is earned when not behind the wheel. Before anyone says I am wrong, I have been there a dozen times. A foot cop will trot up to my car, see I am sitting there, and wave, walk away and leave me alone. Hard to see me behind tinted windows until you get close.

[Rorri]

"He is in fact a lieutenant colonel on the rolls of the Thai Muang police station, and has been suffering from a psychiatric disorder for some time." - but still has his service pistol.

You mustn't have been here long. Thee BIB have to buy their own pistols and ammo, so that means, it is his, not the RTP, hence, they can not take it from him, even is he is a nutter, this is Thailand, not your home country.

[Rorri]

Mr Somporn had parked the governor’s black Toyota Camry in a red-and-white no-parking zone

Hope he gets a ticket for that, should know better !

It is permitted to be next to a red/white curb as long as driver is behind the wheel, waiting to drop off or pick someone up. The ticket is earned when not behind the wheel. Before anyone says I am wrong, I have been there a dozen times. A foot cop will trot up to my car, see I am sitting there, and wave, walk away and leave me alone. Hard to see me behind tinted windows until you get close.

Sorry, you are wrong, what you describe is the yellow and white curbs.

[maidee]

above the law, attitude, both sides

[NamKangMan]

"He is in fact a lieutenant colonel on the rolls of the Thai Muang police station, and has been suffering from a psychiatric disorder for some time." - but still has his service pistol.

You mustn't have been here long. Thee BIB have to buy their own pistols and ammo, so that means, it is his, not the RTP, hence, they can not take it from him, even is he is a nutter, this is Thailand, not your home country.

I know the BiB have to buy their own equipment.

Strange how they will confiscate motorbikes and cars, but not guns from "nutters."

Rorri, becareful not to park in a no parking zone - this guy might blow your head off, but that's ok, "this is Thailand."

I'm sure your friends and family will understand. I mean, it's not like Thai authorities ever thought he would do it one day.