Former Bangkok police chief 'arrested with gun' in Japanese airport

[optad]

This actually happen in the US more often than you think. Passengers forgot to remove firearms from the bags, and amazingly TSA managed to miss most of them. Passengers discover they had their gun in the bag while on the plane or after they reached their destination.

I am sure you are correct but it can not float for an excuse. He must be appropriately penalized for this infraction.

It just makes a mockery of air security and also Japan's domestic laws. All the lassitudes of Thai culture and laws cannot suggest he has not jeopardized everyone else on that plane otherwise we are back to issues of trust.

[scorecard]

My wife is flying this morning on an AirAsia domestic flight, so I was noodling around the Thai AirAsia website, and wondered what they say about carrying handguns in baggage, either carry on or checked in.

Here's their answer (at least for "regular" folks like us):

The following items are prohibited in your baggage whether it is checked in or not: Firearms and ammunition

At several airports around Thailand, I have seen bins of sand designated as gun clearing points. Obviously some people are carrying firearms on (domestic???) flights.

Correct Einstein, with permission and full knowledge of the airline, airline authorities, and security - but not hidden in carryon luggage.

For your interest, I have seen on a number of occasions airline captains clearing their weapon prior to security.

In regard to the drum of sand to clear weapons, perhaps there is another possibility.

I believe that in some countries weapons and ammunition can be checked in but specifically as a weapon and in a special separate container and not at the normal check-in counter. Which airlines do this, I don't know.

However if this is true then the laws / rules of the arriving country would clearly override any such possibilities at the departing country.

Airline captains carrying sidearms is a completely different issue however as said above the laws of the arriving country would have to be totally respected.

[Caitrin]

Scorecard is pretty much correct. As one previous poster mentioned, in Japan, even our patrol officers rarely carry weapons and need special permission to pull them out of the armoury. At no point would Japan allow pilots to carry firearms into/out of Narita.

Which is pretty much irrelevant anyway, because the honorable Lt. Col. is not a pilot, is not a diplomatic security official, etc, etc. He was traveling as a private citizen, and should never have brought a pistol in Japan.

It is a myth that firearms are prohibited in Japan; they are not. But there are heavy restrictions, regulations, and a fairly long registration process. And pistols are not allowed to be carried by private citizens. Only rifles.

[diehard60]

Well that is just one of the more intelligent BIB doing what they want to do when they want and never think.

[diehard60]

"But I do like reading these Thai Police Bashers Nonsense here, and trying to make a Federal Case out of nothing. I bet the Boys on Air Force One are not carrying Water Pistols either."

Now that has to be the most stupid think I have heard on here.

[Khun Paul]

What frightens me more is that Thailand operates a VIP passenger system where their carry on and other luiggage iuncluding the person him/her self are not scanned. NOW what with Airline security under the ,microscope in relation to carriers, it would seem passenger security is lax if you are connected and THAT IS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW as I understand it, all passengers and luiggage MUST be scanned....Thailand again has ignored the INTERNATIONAL LAW . Now wew may see some backlash from other countries.

[scorecard]

Japanese resident and currently naturalising individual here!

His goose is cooked. He will not be released. In Japan, the conviction rate after arrest is extremely high. Like upwards of 95%. An American Toyota executive who mailed herself narcotics is probably going to go to prison. I myself have had to make alternate arrangements for a non-controlled (NON-CONTROLLED!) medicine because Japanese law has gotten stronger that I can no longer have it shipped in from abroad (it is not available in the same manner in Japan, even with a valid prescription, which I have). I have known individuals caught with one joint who have gone to prison for several years before being deported.

Japanese officials cannot be bribed, they cannot be persuaded, they do not listen, and they often ignore the requests and even demands of embassies. There is no right to a speedy trial, no right to a jury trial, and you can be held without due process for a significant amount of time. If you are non-Japanese, you have less legal recourse than a Japanese national. Now, that said, crime here is extremely low, and so is stupidity, in general, and generally there's not a lot of risk to people who aren't actually, you know, being morons.

I will also lose respect for my government if they allow him to walk away, when I have seen what they have done to stupid teenagers with one beer or one joint.

Some years back I worked in Japan for 12 months. One of the western engineers in the company was arrested for drunk driving. There was no accident he was pulled over for eratic driving, this was well into the evening and we was well over the limit.

End of story - he was held in custody, company was contacted (because he was carrying a Japanese work permit) (In the industry concerned the company was required to register at least 2 telephone numbers of senior / safety staff with the local police and the Japanese company staff were always very careful to ensure an alternate number was registered if someone was on holidays etc.).

The company official was told to send an employee to this guys apartment and pack his belongings and deliver them to the police station at the airport within 6 hours. By midday the next day he was on a flight out, he was escorted onto the flight by the police who watched him until the aircraft door was closed.

Edited June 24, 2015 by scorecard

[bristolgeoff]

What a clever thing to do in Japan.no tea money will save you there

[timmyp]

Japanese resident and currently naturalising individual here!

His goose is cooked. He will not be released. In Japan, the conviction rate after arrest is extremely high. Like upwards of 95%. An American Toyota executive who mailed herself narcotics is probably going to go to prison. I myself have had to make alternate arrangements for a non-controlled (NON-CONTROLLED!) medicine because Japanese law has gotten stronger that I can no longer have it shipped in from abroad (it is not available in the same manner in Japan, even with a valid prescription, which I have). I have known individuals caught with one joint who have gone to prison for several years before being deported.

Japanese officials cannot be bribed, they cannot be persuaded, they do not listen, and they often ignore the requests and even demands of embassies. There is no right to a speedy trial, no right to a jury trial, and you can be held without due process for a significant amount of time. If you are non-Japanese, you have less legal recourse than a Japanese national. Now, that said, crime here is extremely low, and so is stupidity, in general, and generally there's not a lot of risk to people who aren't actually, you know, being morons.

I will also lose respect for my government if they allow him to walk away, when I have seen what they have done to stupid teenagers with one beer or one joint.

Japanese permanent resident here!

Officials in Japan can most definitely be bribed, but it's generally a higher-level thing, almost never for parking tickets. Just last week there was a cop who got busted for accepting free services in the red-light district in exchange for allowing someone to not be at fault for a traffic accident. There are loads of examples if you search for them.

I agree that in Japan, there is very little bribery on a low level. There is hardly any on-the-spot bribery like the example I just gave, it's something that is arranged ahead of time.

Caitrin, you seriously gotta stay out of the English press in Japan and read the Japanese newspapers. Lots of embezzlement, lots of bribery.

[atyclb]

Just - to me - another example of how deluded many Thais (especially the ruling class) are regarding Rule of Law and consequences i.e. cause/effect. I suppose it is somewhat understandable considering the culture they were born/raised in that teach neither.

If it were delusion alone. How many functional brain cells does it take to know you dont take a gun aboard a plane. Guess he wasnt the police chief for nothing.

[bangon04]

"... and whether he carried the gun past a security checkpoint in Thailand ..."

Let's think ...

He carried the gun YES but security checkpoint is an oxymoron at the best of times and when you're a VIP... !

Just say loudly - "Do you know who I am?"

and if that doesn't work try slapping the security guard - that sometimes works....

But not in Japan...

Oh and the reason he probably didn't get caught leaving Thailand was that his gun was probably in his checked baggage....

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed as well as a reply.

A post containing a link to a Japanese language site has been removed, please remember this is an English language forum, English is the only acceptable language anywhere on ThaiVisa including Classifieds, except within the Thai language forum, where of course using Thai is allowed.

[ttthailand]

Lets just hope karma works ...... If this guy was a good honest cop I hope he receives a light sentence and a travel ban. If he has a shady corrupt past I hope he gets 20 years hard labor.

[Acharn]

Poor man, this could happen to anyone.

I've forgotten how many times I've accidentally left a firearm in my carry on bag.

What a weak excuse, carry on bags are used by most for items they will need during the flight so he didn't pack his before heading to the airport ?

A lot of people prefer to travel light, not liking to wait for the baggage to be unloaded before finding out their checked luggage was sent to Pago Pago by mistake. He expected to be in Japan for only 4 days, and buying cheap off-the-rack clothes isn't a hardship for him, so he was probably not using any checked luggage. Of course he figured security rules wouldn't apply to him. He's a high-ranking official, after all. Don't the Japanese still give special status to samurai? Heck, he's a daimyo!

[Caitrin]

Timmy,

I'm well aware of corruption and bribery at high levels concerning company misbehaviour. Lots and lots of that.

I don't really read the English press in Japan. I meant that once you're in custody or once someone comes to arrest you, there's no bribing the cops who come to arrest you. The account you give about the patrolman is something I would believe as an isolated case, but not rampant. And I don't think you can find loads of examples of people getting out of firearm or drug possession violations.

[mercman24]

so he takes his "carry on" bag out of the country, (with gun). then he arrives at destination.( with gun.) then he does his thing whatever he is doing in Japan, DOES NOT OPEN HIS CARRY ON BAG (YEAH RIGHT.), (with gun) (see where i am heading) gets caught on the return journey,yep i can see it now, "do you know who i am,? i am Hi-So person", if this dick had a brain he would be dangerous.

[kennypowers]

right now the Bangkok condo market is propped up by black money flooding out of Japan and China and being laundered in high end builds. The high ranking Japanese officials would not be willing to destabilize this relationship over a gun in a bag. A special VIP rest and recreation trip courtesy of prayuth will fix this sharpish.

Edited June 24, 2015 by kennypowers

[baboon]

but didn't realize he had left it in his carry-on bag.

So that would be TWICE that he didn't realized he's got a gun in his carry on yes?

on the way over and back from Japan yes?

Ok, who are we to argue with a general and Thaksin's pet....

Congrats on being the first to make a connection with Thaksin on a thread which is absolutely sod all to do with him. There always has to be at least one... Edited June 24, 2015 by baboon

[kiwikeith]

The Japanese police might want to investigate his activity while he was in Japan with a gun.

He just take gun for new Japanese ivory handle and chrome plating better quality in Japan but never even dream of problem because Police ok can carry gun

[timmyp]

Timmy,

I'm well aware of corruption and bribery at high levels concerning company misbehaviour. Lots and lots of that.

I don't really read the English press in Japan. I meant that once you're in custody or once someone comes to arrest you, there's no bribing the cops who come to arrest you. The account you give about the patrolman is something I would believe as an isolated case, but not rampant. And I don't think you can find loads of examples of people getting out of firearm or drug possession violations.

I agree that cases of bribery/corruption after someone has been booked are not rampant, that they are not part of standard operating procedure. Stories like that occasionally pop up in the news. Those are just the ones that get caught, though! On the whole, low and mid-level officials in Japan are a rule-abiding bunch.

Cases of firearms and drugs are taken care of before any arrest ever occurs.

[timmyp]

He has been released already. The Thai embassy helped him out.

Really? Any source? This story is insane and if he doesnt do time its going to say a lot about Japanese authorities and airport security...

My post of a Japanese news article indicating that the Thai cop was release hours ago was just removed (because the link led to a Japanese site)

So, the Thai cop was released hours ago after negotiations with the Thai embassy, and is expected to return to Japan. I would love to provide a link as proof, but it will just be deleted.

[Robby nz]

but didn't realize he had left it in his carry-on bag.

So that would be TWICE that he didn't realized he's got a gun in his carry on yes?

on the way over and back from Japan yes?

Ok, who are we to argue with a general and Thaksin's pet....

Congrats on being the first to make a connection with Thaksin on a thread which is absolutely sod all to do with him. There always has to be at least one...

The great defender leaps to his heroes defense.

Perhaps it is appropriate to point out that your hero is also his, for back in 2011 he had his badge of rank proudly pinned on him by Thaksin and kept the photo of the event hanging in his office.

The judgment of a police general who would be proud of his connection with a convicted criminal on the run would have to be called into question and this topic surely reinforces the lack of good judgment and common sense of Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit.

[halloween]

My post of a Japanese news article indicating that the Thai cop was release hours ago was just removed (because the link led to a Japanese site)

So, the Thai cop was released hours ago after negotiations with the Thai embassy, and is expected to return to Japan. I would love to provide a link as proof, but it will just be deleted.

Shouldn't that be "expected to return to Thailand"? I suspect return to Japan might be discouraged, at least in the short term.

Did they give his gun back?

Edited June 24, 2015 by halloween

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

What was the name of the Japanese news entity that's reporting his release??

[Fullstop]

Poor guy, what could be worse than this? Let's hope they don't find any "go fast" in his pocket. How did that get there?!! You tell me, your the corrupt policeman, tell me you don't plant evidence back in Siam?

Okay! I Give Up!

What does a Police Man, legally allowed to carry a Fire Arm in Thailand, who forgets it in his carry-on luggage, got anything to do with him being corrupt?

Second thought! Forget about it!

He's mates with Taksin ... sh!t sticks.

[winstonc]

to be fair to the poor chap ..when growing up his school teacher told him thailand is the center of the world ..and countries that surround us are mere provincies that we own ...thus giving him an instant superiority ego rush..so guys b4 you castigate the poor guy remember it was his superior education that made him thus...

[Kalbo]

I just read in a Japanese language paper that he was arrested on the 22nd, which means he's been in custody for a few days (snigger) and at present the Japanese

police are trying to investigate where he got the gun from. i.e. did he get it in Japan or bring it with him from Thailand. Nothing about him being released yet, but in the same

breath, nothing about him still being in custody.

[Robby nz]

For those who want to have a go at Thai airport security consider this.

If he did take the weapon out of Thailand undetected it means that Japanese airport security also failed to detect it when he entered Japan.

[edwardflory]

I remember the good-old-days in the USA where you COULD have a firearm in your CHECKED airline luggage

I flew into 2 airports 3-4 times a month. You asked for the STATION MANAGER of the airline BEFORE you checked in, advised the STATION MANAGER you had a FIREARM and AMO in the baggage you were going to check thru. The Station Manager then asked you: what type of firearm, is the weapon unloaded, is the amo secured in a different box, etc. IF you had a concealed weapons permit or were police officer, it went faster or if you were a regular travler.

The STATION MANAGER then checked you in at the ticket counter, took your luggage in hand to the loading cart, and away you went. After 3 or so trips, the STATION MGR greeted me, " is IT secure, took my luggage, "Have a good day, go ahead and check in"

LONG PAST DAYS.

[Rustapha]

His new nickname is Paladin. Showing my age there, what.

BTW will make an interesting compare and contrast with the Pakistan case.

" Have Gun will travel,' Reads the card of a man, !! Showin my age as well, !!