Thai people smuggling 'kingpin' hands himself in: police

[webfact]

Thai people smuggling 'kingpin' hands himself in: police
AFP

BANGKOK: -- A former Thai regional official accused of being a major people trafficking kingpin turned himself in on Monday, police said, as the kingdom continues a belated blitz against the lucrative trade.

Pajjuban Aungkachotephan, better known as Ko Tong (Big Brother Tong), had been sought by police for the last week on human trafficking charges.

"He surrendered to police this morning in Bangkok," national police spokesman Lieutenant General Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP.

"Police are now taking him to the south for questioning and more investigation," he added.

Thailand began a crackdown on human trafficking and smuggling following the discovery of a network of secret jungle camps in the south and dozens of shallow graves thought to contain the remains of Myanmar Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants.

Thousands of migrants were subsequently abandoned by smuggling gangs, some in remote jungles but many more on rickety boats in the Andaman Sea.

Rights groups and observers have long accused Thai officials, including the police and military, of turning a blind eye to human trafficking -- and even being complicit in the grim trade.

Ko Tong was until recently an influential official in Thailand's southern province of Satun, a region long known to be a major transit point for people smugglers and traffickers.

Thai police had previously suggested he might have fled to Malaysia, but Prawut said there was no evidence he had left the country.

Television showed pictures of Ko Tong, balding and dressed in a white t-shirt, appearing at a brief press conference flanked by police officers, some of whom were armed.

It is common in Thailand for accused criminals to be presented to the media once they are charged.

Local media reported that he denied all the charges against him and said he would only testify in court.

Regional police official Major General Puthichart Ekachant told AFP that 65 arrest warrants have now been issued against people suspected of involvement in people trafficking or smuggling.

So far 31 have been arrested or surrendered, including Ko Tong, he added.

More than 50 police have been transferred from their positions for failing to stop the trade. No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown.

If convicted, Ko Tong faces between four to 15 years in jail and a fine up to one million baht ($30,000).


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-05-18

[clockman]

The fall guy, the real one is still hidden!

[Always18]

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

................truly the Thai elephant in the room.........

[Robby nz]

The fall guy, the real one is still hidden!

As you obviously have inside information on who this is I suggest you look up the anonymous phone numbers or even email addresses and pass on your information immediately.

[JAG]

Well I suppose he had to come out. Rather difficult to bid for the contract to run the two "detention islands" if you are in hiding !

[EricBerg]

"If convicted, Ko Tong faces between four to 15 years in jail and a fine up to one million baht ($30,000)."

4 years in a luxury cell with priviliges. Then come out as a rich guy? If high ranked in the trafficking he will have gathered many millions.

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

Very odd as the border region must have swarmed with army trying to catch the moslim terrorists in the south. The rangers were actively searching the jungle for years. And they are quite good. Perhaps certain hills were off limit long time?

Am missing his picture with the article here. Unusual. Here's how Google sees this "fall guy":

https://www.google.nl/search?q=Ko+Tong&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=G8lZVcuaDoP8UoyVgYgG&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=1578&bih=828

Edited May 18, 2015 by EricBerg

[deckape]

Justice Thai style...soft, murky, and long delayed.

[MobileContent]

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

................truly the Thai elephant in the room.........

+1 and I always thought the army protects the borders.

[Oziex1]

Back room deals done, story fades away.

[tx22cb]

I fear an unfortunate accident is about to befall him.

[Fat Haggis]

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

................truly the Thai elephant in the room.........

+1 and I always thought the army protects the borders.

Wouldn't that be "dereliction " of duty ? As in the failure to protect the border ?

[Robby nz]

Sure I remember reading, although I don't remember where, that several military had been arrested and were facing court marshal.

But if AFP have written it then it must be true........Right ?

[clockman]

Just read the Reuters report of 2013. People are identified by name! All this has been forgotten.

[Robby nz]

Just read the Reuters report of 2013. People are identified by name! All this has been forgotten.

I have also read that report and it is extremely damning, I don't know if any of those mentioned in that report are on the list of those who have been arrested or put to the side for farther investigation but they should be.

I also read another report in the BKK Post a couple of days ago of Yingluck defending her Govts efforts in combating people smuggling, without going looking for it I remember it quoting her as saying they set up some committees, and wrote a letter to the UN which was satisfied with what they were doing as they didn't downgrade Thailand.

[T_Dog]

Thailand's government has known about this for a long time so they should at least take some responsibility for the refuges out there in the sea. If they would have eliminated the "move for profit" Thai connection five or more years ago, the situation today would likely not be occurring. I doubt this so called "king pin" is the only culprit.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/14355-military-links-plague-thai-trafficking-reform-efforts.html

And that 2013 Reuters report is a bit daunting! http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/05/us-thailand-rohingya-special-report-idUSBRE9B400320131205

Edited May 18, 2015 by T_Dog

[JAG]

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

................truly the Thai elephant in the room.........

+1 and I always thought the army protects the borders.

The Army protects itself.

[NongKhaiKid]

I have a funny feeling that the week he spent ' on the run ' will have been put to good use arranging things before giving himself up.

[Artisi]

Thailand's government has known about this for a long time so they should at least take some responsibility for the refuges out there in the sea. If they would have eliminated the "move for profit" Thai connection five or more years ago, the situation today would likely not be occurring. I doubt this so called "king pin" is the only culprit.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/14355-military-links-plague-thai-trafficking-reform-efforts.html

And that 2013 Reuters report is a bit daunting! http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/05/us-thailand-rohingya-special-report-idUSBRE9B400320131205

Daunting? would say damming - especially the inaction or is that acceptance of the facts by Thailand.

[z42]

A maximum 15 years for human trafficking is embarrassing. And a maximum fine of 2 million baht too.

Where exactly is the deterrent here?? Disgusting

[rametindallas]

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

................truly the Thai elephant in the room.........

+1 and I always thought the army protects the borders.

Do you just throw 'stuff' out there because it suits your agenda? The borders are patrolled by the Border Patrol Police who are NOT under the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Army but are technically part of the Royal Thai Police but enjoy autonomy. It is always better to know than to think you know. Google is your friend so stop trolling!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Patrol_Police

[elgordo38]

The fall guy, the real one is still hidden!

He is waiting for the check from higher up to clear his bank. Hide for a week and then turn yourself in hmm lots of time to contact people and hide the loot make deals. Something stinks here.

Edited May 18, 2015 by elgordo38

[EyesWideOpen]

What an odd story. Normally in his position you either do a runner to Cambodia which

must have a little Thai town by now, or if you have real bucks head to Europe. I have

never heard of any big fish turning themselves in. I can only conjecture he struck some

sort of deal where he handed over money, and promised silence regarding people WAY

up the food chain. So a tap on the wrist, and let the story do the classic Thai fade away...

This is part of the fun on posting on TV. The media here never digs out the truth or follows

up on any story, so it becomes a bit of a game here to guess what the truth is... :-)

Edited May 18, 2015 by EyesWideOpen

[webfact]

HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Alleged trafficking kingpin detained
THE NATION, AGENCIES

Alleged trafficking kingpin detained; foreign minister to attend meeting in KL on boat people issue

BANGKOK: -- A SOUTHERN man alleged to be a suspected human smuggling kingpin was in police custody yesterday after a brief manhunt along the Thai and Malaysian border as part of the ongoing crackdown on a vast network in the trafficking of Rohingya and other migrants.

Pajjuban Angchotephan, also known by the alias of Ko Tong (Big Brother Tong), was flown from the South to be paraded at a police conference at Don Mueang airport.

Royal Thai Police commissioner General Somyot Poompanmoung dismissed reports that police had a secret negotiation with him prior to his surrender.

Pajjuban's request to be released on bail was rejected and he is being detained at the Provincial Police Region 9, which covers provinces in the upper South where Pajjuban is based and turned himself in.

A former local politician in Satun, Pajjuban claimed that he had contacted deputy police chief Lt-General Chakthip Chaijinda to arrange his surrender after learning about the allegation against him from the news.

News reports had quoted several senior police officers as saying police were trying to coordinate with the Malaysian authorities to hunt down Pajjuban, who they said had fled Thailand from his home province Satun.

In related news, a senior officer at Khiansa Police Station in Surat Thani has been transferred pending an investigation into an allegation he had benefited from Rohingya smuggling.

Police have also obtained arrest warrants for Pajjuban's wife, Thassanee, and a police officer based in Ranong, Lieutenant Narathorn Samphan.

A closed-door key meeting on the suppression of human trafficking was held yesterday at a naval auditorium in Phuket.

The attendants included civilian authorities from Phuket, Phang Nga, Satun, Krabi and Ranong along with naval officers and military and police personnel.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, speaking after the meeting, said that to comprehensively tackle the problem all countries involved in the overall smuggling process needed to address the issue and jointly work out the solutions together.

He said the Ranong governor had informed the meeting that the two prospective sites in this province to be used as temporary shelters for the migrants were not suitable, and the Police Immigration Bureau remained capable of housing the existing migrants.

Meeting in Kuala Lumpur today

Thailand is currently hosting more than 1,000 Rohingya and other migrants, he said, adding that there were now 28 suspects in custody, out of a total of 65 people wanted under arrest warrants.

On the international front, Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn will today join a meeting with his counterparts from Malaysia and Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur to discuss ways to tackle human trafficking, according to an official at the Foreign Ministry.

"From Thailand's point of view, international cooperation is needed to tackle the problem in accordance with [a] humanitarian basis and international burden sharing," said the ministry's spokesman Sek Wannamethee.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Anifah Aman called the meeting of the three nations after thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants were refused permission to land on any shore of these Southeast Asian nations.

Myanmar said it acknowledged the international concerns over the fleeing of Rohingya from its Rakhine state but insisted it should not be solely blamed for the regional migrant crisis.

Information Minister Ye Htut said his country understood "the concerns [of] the international community on the people in the sea".

"Instead of blaming Myanmar for all these problems ... all these issues should be solved by the regional partners," he added in English following a briefing between government officials and diplomats in Yangon.

Malaysia, as the current chair of Asean, wanted Myanmar to hold an emergency meeting on the issue but the government in Nay Pyi Taw offered a cold response to the idea and suggested it would reject an invitation by Thailand to attend a meeting on migration in Bangkok on May 29.

At sea, the Indonesian navy prevented a suspected migrant boat from entering territorial waters last weekend after the arrival of hundreds of Rohingya and Bangladeshis and had stepped up patrols in the area, the military said yesterday.

Meanwhile the Philippines said it would push back to sea undocumented Asian boat people despite a United Nations appeal to Southeast Asian countries to open their ports to the migrants from impoverished Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Alleged-trafficking-kingpin-detained-30260398.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-19

[Manbing]

Well I suppose he had to come out. Rather difficult to bid for the contract to run the two "detention islands" if you are in hiding !

Not really, some people manage to run an entire country from overseas, running a small business is child's play.

[Manbing]

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

................truly the Thai elephant in the room.........

+1 and I always thought the army protects the borders.

Do you just throw 'stuff' out there because it suits your agenda? The borders are patrolled by the Border Patrol Police who are NOT under the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Army but are technically part of the Royal Thai Police but enjoy autonomy. It is always better to know than to think you know. Google is your friend so stop trolling!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Patrol_Police

Actually there's a large army presence in the south. Its difficult to believe whoever was involved were not involving senior army officials.

They patrol close to borders too. We all know that. That's why transports are stopped by the army 15 minutes into Thailand, after the customs have already checked your papers.

[SOTIRIOS]

...if they do not seize his assets...once again.....then....;crime does pay'.....

[Lupatria]

Now I wonder what kind of “inactive post” they will create for a trafficking kingpin.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

The fall guy, the real one is still hidden!

As you obviously have inside information on who this is I suggest you look up the anonymous phone numbers or even email addresses and pass on your information immediately.

Robby read todays BKK post and you will see that a certain Major General of the RTA are involved. If you know how the system work you will know that there will not only be one king pin, there will be king pins right through the process, in Burma, the south of Thailand (army, police, immigration, local government etc), the fishing industry, people stealing/forging ID's, fishing officials.

For ever Baht a Thai politician gains from graft Thai civil servants gain a Baht 1000 from graft.

[HerbalEd]

The fall guy, the real one is still hidden!

It must be amazing to know the real story about things like this. How do you do it?

[Fat Haggis]

"No military officials have been caught up in the current crackdown."

................truly the Thai elephant in the room.........

+1 and I always thought the army protects the borders.

Do you just throw 'stuff' out there because it suits your agenda? The borders are patrolled by the Border Patrol Police who are NOT under the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Army but are technically part of the Royal Thai Police but enjoy autonomy. It is always better to know than to think you know. Google is your friend so stop trolling!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Patrol_Police

Right..... So the Army don't patrol the border for insurgents then?

No wonder the war in the South is farcical if the army are not doing their job, the army you seem to love defending.

I guess I should really think more along the lines of TiT and that Thais do things very very differently from most other nations ?

Did you conveniently forget last year the Admiral in charge of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs stated in the press that he monitored " third hands" or words along the same lines entering Thailand in pick up trucks, yet chose to do nothing about it, and I said back then to allow insurgents/min/3rd hand into the country under observation is derelict in their duty!!

Trolling? Hardly I just don't drink the Junta Kool aid like you do.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Fat Haggis