Ex-chamberlain re-enacts his alleged crimes

[Lite Beer]

Ex-chamberlain re-enacts his alleged crimes
The Nation

Former grand chamberlain Montree Sotangkoon is escorted to one of two locations yesterday to re-enact his alleged crimes, including violations of the lese majeste law.

BANGKOK: -- UNDER police supervision yesterday, former grand chamberlain Montree Sotangkoon re-enacted his alleged crimes related to the charges against him of abuse of power and lese majeste at the ministries of Information and Communications Technology and Energy.

The court also turned down his request for bail yesterday, which marked the start of his first 12-day detention period, special investigator Pol Colonel Chayut Marayart said.

Montree, 53, has pleaded guilty to all four charges, namely embezzlement, demanding kickbacks, abuse of power and lese majeste.


Chasing down ill-gotten gains

Montree, who previously worked as an aide to former princess Srirasmi, is being detained at a new training centre for Army conscripts in Bangkok's Thawee Watthana district.

Police believe Montree has hidden a lot of his ill-gotten gains in houses in this district.

Chayut said he and special military investigator Colonel Wijarn Jodtaeng were working on the case together as ordered by the military's ruling National Council for Peace and Order, before four Bangkok police stations obtained four arrest warrants on Tuesday and apprehended Montree on Thursday. The Royal Household Bureau had discharged him before he was arrested.

Pol Maj-General Korkiat Wongsumeth said Montree appeared tense and exhausted, but was still able to eat. He has not had any visitors so far.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ex-chamberlain-re-enacts-his-alleged-crimes-30262230.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-13

[canuckamuck]

Terrible photography. If you want to take a picture of 50 policeman arresting one guy, you need to stand on a chair.

Edited June 12, 2015 by canuckamuck

[NongKhaiKid]

Given the nature of the charges the re-enactment must have been a joy to behold.

[Somtamnication]

How do you re-enact fraud? The 50 cops in the pic are not pointing at him. I am so confew'

[noitom]

It would be fair to assume that his agreeing to reenact is an admission of guilt. The Thai reenact an police photo op is a preposterous circus. It's clear that they are merely after this guys money.

[Robby nz]

How do you re-enact fraud? The 50 cops in the pic are not pointing at him. I am so confew'

You are confused try counting again.

[Bluespunk]

"Former grand chamberlain Montree Sotangkoon is escorted to one of two locations yesterday to re-enact his alleged crimes, including violations of the lese majeste law."

If you re-enact a charge of LM isn't that committing an offence under the LM laws?

Edited June 13, 2015 by Bluespunk

[LannaGuy]

The problem, as I see it, is that if you don't 'confess' you don't get your sentence halved? and no chance of a Royal pardon? this is 'Hobson's Choice' and I'm sure many 'confess' to get the 'discount'

bit like "are you a witch"?

if you confess we'll burn you

if not we'll torture you THEN burn you

Edited June 13, 2015 by LannaGuy

[NongKhaiKid]

"Former grand chamberlain Montree Sotangkoon is escorted to one of two locations yesterday to re-enact his alleged crimes, including violations of the lese majeste law."

If you re-enact a charge of LM isn't that committing an offence under the LM laws?

Condoned, aided and abetted by the BIB in the conspiracy to repeat the crime ?

[Acharn]

This seems to be an initial report, probably supposed to be followed up by a more comprehensive story, but it would have been nice if they had bothered to explain what a "grand chamberlain" is when it's at home. Some sort of Royal Household functionary? I hate having to make notes of cases to google a couple of weeks/months/years from now to see what happened, if it's ever reported. The story of Rakesh Saxena was worth it, if only because he was just as dishonest and corrupt in Canada as he was here. That one took from 1996 to 2012, when he was finally convicted. I don't suppose this case will take so long.

[Acharn]

The problem, as I see it, is that if you don't 'confess' you don't get your sentence halved? and no chance of a Royal pardon? this is 'Hobson's Choice' and I'm sure many 'confess' to get the 'discount'

bit like "are you a witch"?

if you confess we'll burn you

if not we'll torture you THEN burn you

Wasn''t the test to tie their hands and legs and then throw them into the village pond? If they floated they were guilty, but if they drowned they were innocent. Also, I think the penalty for witchcraft in England was hanging. Burning alive was for heretics.

Also, the thought comes to mind, in the U.S., at least in most states, you may be granted parole (early release) if you express remorse. If you continue to claim you didn't do it you aren't eligible for parole.

Edited June 13, 2015 by Acharn

[Seastallion]

" obtained four arrest warrants on Tuesday and apprehended Montree on Thursday. The Royal Household Bureau had discharged him before he was arrested."

So Thai, it's endearing. Warrant for arrest....phone his employer so that he's sacked before the arrest, then the police arrest the ex-employee. Can't have current employees arrested, you know.

I love it.

[Oziex1]

From the outside looking in to the medieval, dark ages.

The primitive believing ownership of a German luxury car makes them modern.

Referring to Thailand's finest of course.

[robblok]

Scary that even those close to royal family extort people using their connections. I nothing sacred here.

[Tatsujin]

He's innocent! There's no cop in the picture pointing to him. They must have the wrong guy!

[Anthony5]

Scary that even those close to royal family extort people using their connections. I nothing sacred here.

I think "using their influence" would be a more accurate description. Extortion is what it is called by the people with agenda that made the ball rolling.

[halloween]

Scary that even those close to royal family extort people using their connections. I nothing sacred here.

I think "using their influence" would be a more accurate description. Extortion is what it is called by the people with agenda that made the ball rolling.

So what would you call using your position of authority to demand kickbacks?

[Rimmer]

A post and a reply have been removed.

[robblok]

Scary that even those close to royal family extort people using their connections. I nothing sacred here.

I think "using their influence" would be a more accurate description. Extortion is what it is called by the people with agenda that made the ball rolling.

Using influence to get money.. is close to extortion. Sure we know who made the ball rolling and why. But crimes are committed by this guy else he would walk.

But i just find it real scary that people so close to royalty would misuse their power. Just shows how bad things are here corruption wise.

[ratcatcher]

" obtained four arrest warrants on Tuesday and apprehended Montree on Thursday. The Royal Household Bureau had discharged him before he was arrested."

So Thai, it's endearing. Warrant for arrest....phone his employer so that he's sacked before the arrest, then the police arrest the ex-employee. Can't have current employees arrested, you know.

I love it.

"...phone his employer so that he's sacked before the arrest,...."

I doubt that was the case.

Since we are reading about the household manager of a certain party whose situation is beyond forum discussion, you can rest assured that his termination occurred well before his arrest.

[Jimlove]

No Wonder the crime spree in the streets are on a record high with all these fools posing for pics as soon as they see a camera - ridiculous

[NanLaew]

It would be fair to assume that his agreeing to reenact is an admission of guilt. The Thai reenact an police photo op is a preposterous circus. It's clear that they are merely after this guys money.

See para 3 of the OP.

Montree, 53, has pleaded guilty to all four charges, namely embezzlement, demanding kickbacks, abuse of power and lese majeste. ...

OK, I guess you hadn't had your morning coffee when you posted.

[cocopops]

It would be fair to assume that his agreeing to reenact is an admission of guilt. The Thai reenact an police photo op is a preposterous circus. It's clear that they are merely after this guys money.

I think this is actually one of the few times we can be absolutely certain that the police in question are not trying to extort anything from the guy...

Edited June 13, 2015 by cocopops

[khaowong1]

You cant fight Lese Majeste in the court because no ones allowed to talk about it. Hmmm.

[lildragon]

Just like with the Pongpat case. Sooooo much to be said but we absolutely cannot discuss it.

It will be a great day in Thailand's history when that stipulation has gone.

[Dogmatix]

Police re-enactments (which they agreed to stop last year) are grotesque and barbaric at the best of times. But renactment when the alleged crimes involved asking for directorships and bribes seems really pointless. It is not as of he can show police the exact angle he swung the axe or help them recover a body or murder weapon.

[Torrens54]

"Former grand chamberlain Montree Sotangkoon is escorted to one of two locations yesterday to re-enact his alleged crimes, including violations of the lese majeste law."

If you re-enact a charge of LM isn't that committing an offence under the LM laws?

You may be right but then again, do you really WANT to make that sort of suggestion?

[Torrens54]

This seems to be an initial report, probably supposed to be followed up by a more comprehensive story, but it would have been nice if they had bothered to explain what a "grand chamberlain" is when it's at home. Some sort of Royal Household functionary? I hate having to make notes of cases to google a couple of weeks/months/years from now to see what happened, if it's ever reported. The story of Rakesh Saxena was worth it, if only because he was just as dishonest and corrupt in Canada as he was here. That one took from 1996 to 2012, when he was finally convicted. I don't suppose this case will take so long.

Perchance the Chamberlain looks after the Chambers, you know, the Law Chambers, the Bed Chambers , the Chamber Pots...poor soul was probably upto his eyes in hard work so a little time in the Cooler will make a new man of him.

[MaiChai]

I wonder if he is really guilty or just fallen out of favour and now guilty?

[Langsuan Man]

The only thing missing from the picture are the deemers, you know, those who deem that something is offensive to the monarchy