Thai Police Bust Multi-Million Baht Sex Toy Smuggling Ring

[Lite Beer]

BMA officials to explain 'inflated' HD prices
TANUTPONG KONGSAI
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK officials have said they will explain information posted on a Thai website that allegedly puts a very high price - Bt800,000 - on 4 terrabyte (TB) hard disks used with closed circuit TV cameras.

Traipop Khantayaporn, head of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Traffic and Transport Department's Traffic System Development Division, said he would check related information and explain details to the media tomorrow.

A user account named "SaManTaGTR_NBS" at notebookspec.com claimed to have a six-page document about budgetary and reference pricing for CCTV at Area 2 Administrative Centre. It reportedly included details on the fifth page about 19 external hard disks for CC cameras, each with at least 4TB capacity, at a price of Bt800,000 a piece - and a total of Bt15.2 million.

It said the information on buying new CCTV cameras was on the city's website (office.bangkok.go.th) but budgets to procure new cameras and many items were a lot more than market prices. The document reportedly showed seven external hard disks of at least 15TB at Bt2.777 million per unit and three external hard disks of at least 20TB at Bt3.45 million per unit.

It urged the authorities to probe possible corruption, as a normal hard disk within a CCTV camera should be only about Bt6,000. So, the said price was too high even for an external hard disk.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-officials-to-explain-inflated-HD-prices-30267746.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-30

[peterjackson]

Unbelievable

For all the unelected PM's talk of ridding the system of corruption. Very little has changed and bosses of these agencies obviously don't take his rhetoric seriously as they continue to openly feed at the trough.

[ChrisY1]

They just can't help themselves.............so ingrained in their life!

[h90]

Unbelievable

For all the unelected PM's talk of ridding the system of corruption. Very little has changed and bosses of these agencies obviously don't take his rhetoric seriously as they continue to openly feed at the trough.

and the PM is watching while they are ignoring him.....that would be the right moment for heavy hands.....send the military police.....

[kkerry]

$160 on Amazon...

[tx22cb]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

[sharecropper]

Same in Pattaya with camera procurement:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851731-pattaya-to-spend-60-million-baht-on-200-more-cctv-cameras/

[h90]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

I don't think you can get a professional external one that can stay all year outside no matter of rain/heat. Water proof, with power supply that is also professional for 8K Baht.

I would estimate it at 1000-2000 USD if it is installed professional (if that is included) another 1000-2000 USD.

But that is still far away from 800 KB

[edwinchester]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

If the whistle blower is rewarded then you know things are changing. The fear is that they will be charged with computer crime and defamation, then you will know it's business as usual.

[cloudhopper]

It's all a misunderstanding...

[smedly]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

I don't think you can get a professional external one that can stay all year outside no matter of rain/heat. Water proof, with power supply that is also professional for 8K Baht.

I would estimate it at 1000-2000 USD if it is installed professional (if that is included) another 1000-2000 USD.

But that is still far away from 800 KB

The cameras feed into an indoors data center, they are not hanging on a pole outside <deleted>

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It said the information on buying new CCTV cameras was on the city's website (office.bangkok.go.th) but budgets to procure new cameras and many items were a lot more than market prices. The document reportedly showed seven external hard disks of at least 15TB at Bt2.777 million per unit and three external hard disks of at least 20TB at Bt3.45 million per unit.

Not to argue whatever BMA is doing is kosher... but...

AFAIK, hard disk manufacturers don't make single 15 or 20 TB hard drives. The only way to get to those sizes is through a RAID array of multiple connected disks, which obviously are more expensive.

Something like these...

These would be what, about $2000 U.S. apiece, or about 70,000 baht per. But that's still a long way short of the prices being mentioned in the OP article, at 2-3 million baht per setup.

Edited August 30, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[trogers]

It said the information on buying new CCTV cameras was on the city's website (office.bangkok.go.th) but budgets to procure new cameras and many items were a lot more than market prices. The document reportedly showed seven external hard disks of at least 15TB at Bt2.777 million per unit and three external hard disks of at least 20TB at Bt3.45 million per unit.

Not to argue whatever BMA is doing is kosher... but...

AFAIK, hard disk manufacturers don't make single 15 or 20 TB hard drives. The only way to get to those sizes is through a RAID array of multiple connected disks, which obviously are more expensive.

Something like these...

PS2951.jpg

These would be what, about $2000 U.S. apiece, or about 70,000 baht per. But that's still a long way short of the prices being mentioned in the OP article, at 2-3 million baht per setup.

The very high price is probably for chartering the supertanker to ship these storage units to Bangkok.

[MZurf]

It said the information on buying new CCTV cameras was on the city's website (office.bangkok.go.th) but budgets to procure new cameras and many items were a lot more than market prices. The document reportedly showed seven external hard disks of at least 15TB at Bt2.777 million per unit and three external hard disks of at least 20TB at Bt3.45 million per unit.

Not to argue whatever BMA is doing is kosher... but...

AFAIK, hard disk manufacturers don't make single 15 or 20 TB hard drives. The only way to get to those sizes is through a RAID array of multiple connected disks, which obviously are more expensive.

Something like these...

PS2951.jpg

These would be what, about $2000 U.S. apiece, or about 70,000 baht per. But that's still a long way short of the prices being mentioned in the OP article, at 2-3 million baht per setup.

The very high price is probably for chartering the supertanker to ship these storage units to Bangkok.

Hence the need for submarines!

[Artisi]

Nothing to explain, because we know what we are doing and can do what we like whenever we like -- and don't dare start an investigation cause we will complain and so NO to any investigation - we know the people who really matter.

Seen and heard it all before - the only thing that changes in Thailand under a military coup / government, is the weather.

[robblok]

It said the information on buying new CCTV cameras was on the city's website (office.bangkok.go.th) but budgets to procure new cameras and many items were a lot more than market prices. The document reportedly showed seven external hard disks of at least 15TB at Bt2.777 million per unit and three external hard disks of at least 20TB at Bt3.45 million per unit.

Not to argue whatever BMA is doing is kosher... but...

AFAIK, hard disk manufacturers don't make single 15 or 20 TB hard drives. The only way to get to those sizes is through a RAID array of multiple connected disks, which obviously are more expensive.

Something like these...

PS2951.jpg

These would be what, about $2000 U.S. apiece, or about 70,000 baht per. But that's still a long way short of the prices being mentioned in the OP article, at 2-3 million baht per setup.

Also don't forget those HD's were bought a few years back when they were a lot more expensive as now. Still a hell of a markup and corruption but to act like the price of a single HD now is the same as a 20tb back then is not true either.

The BMA should get prosecuted for corruption especially as the camera's are crap.

[h90]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

I don't think you can get a professional external one that can stay all year outside no matter of rain/heat. Water proof, with power supply that is also professional for 8K Baht.

I would estimate it at 1000-2000 USD if it is installed professional (if that is included) another 1000-2000 USD.

But that is still far away from 800 KB

The cameras feed into an indoors data center, they are not hanging on a pole outside <deleted>

Most probably you are right...I didn't think for data center and "external hard disk". I thought of some outside water proof for remote areas.

But I guess you are right.

[tomacht8]

This corruption is like a cancer.
The only option is to cut out this cancer quick and completely from the state body.
- Fast trial, conviction and long prison sentence without parole and bail deposits games.
- Confiscation of assets and the complete ensuring of stolen state funds.
- in addition heavy fines.
- lifetime ban ever to hold public office again.

As long as the state can be robbed unpunished, they can not eliminate the country's corruption in public offices!
This soft and careless handling of criminals in public offices is poison for society.

[Somtamnication]

Nothing to explain, really.

[Solomon]

Unbelievable

For all the unelected PM's talk of ridding the system of corruption. Very little has changed and bosses of these agencies obviously don't take his rhetoric seriously as they continue to openly feed at the trough.

and the PM is watching while they are ignoring him.....that would be the right moment for heavy hands.....send the military police.....

The only place the military police will be going is to pick up their masters cut of this obvious corruption.

[h90]

This corruption is like a cancer.

The only option is to cut out this cancer quick and completely from the state body.

- Fast trial, conviction and long prison sentence without parole and bail deposits games.

- Confiscation of assets and the complete ensuring of stolen state funds.

- in addition heavy fines.

- lifetime ban ever to hold public office again.

As long as the state can be robbed unpunished, they can not eliminate the country's corruption in public offices!

This soft and careless handling of criminals in public offices is poison for society.

And not forget to seize the money of the wife, second wife, daughter and gardener unless they can proof why they have 100 Millions at a salary of 12.000 per month

[Brewster67]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

I don't think you can get a professional external one that can stay all year outside no matter of rain/heat. Water proof, with power supply that is also professional for 8K Baht.

I would estimate it at 1000-2000 USD if it is installed professional (if that is included) another 1000-2000 USD.

But that is still far away from 800 KB

Did you make this stuff up?... Outdoor HDs?

They are standard HDs kept indoors and linked with either cable or wi-fi.

Also 1000 to 2000 USD for fitting?... dreamland stuff.

Edited August 30, 2015 by Brewster67

[Chicog]

Traipop Khantayaporn, head of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Traffic and Transport Department's Traffic System Development Division, said he would check related information and explain details to the media tomorrow.

It's the whistleblowers fault, obviously. Had he not sniffed around this would not be an issue.

[Greer]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

I don't think you can get a professional external one that can stay all year outside no matter of rain/heat. Water proof, with power supply that is also professional for 8K Baht.

I would estimate it at 1000-2000 USD if it is installed professional (if that is included) another 1000-2000 USD.

But that is still far away from 800 KB

The external hard drive doesn't stay outside. The camera is mounted outside, and the recording drives are kept at a properly controlled weatherproof location - I am guessing it would be a local police station or Amphur for example.

[Shiver]

Something like a RAID configuration would make sense, but with the number of stories where CCTV data was lost, I suspect they're not taking these measures.

[springheeled jack]

no wonder there are so many rich people in Thailand this is inflation we do need cctv cameras but not at these kind of prices .

[tx22cb]

800 kBaht for a common item worth 8 kBaht = a mark-up of 10,000%!

1) heads should roll - i.e. fired and prosecuted

2) the whistle-blower should be rewarded

3) procurement process should be much more transparent at the BMA

Unfortunately, the BMA are the colour of this Government, so not much will be done.

I don't think you can get a professional external one that can stay all year outside no matter of rain/heat. Water proof, with power supply that is also professional for 8K Baht.

I would estimate it at 1000-2000 USD if it is installed professional (if that is included) another 1000-2000 USD.

But that is still far away from 800 KB

As you now know, these hard drives would hardly be dangling from poles!

Today on the Lazada website, one can buy a Seagate 3.5" NAS HDD 4TB SATA hard drive (designed for NAS use) for 7,650 Baht, free delivery within 4 days by Kerry Logistics. With an additional 10% reduction if using MasterCard to buy it.

And if one is buying 19 of these ..... the price would still be less than 8 kBaht.

[xylophone]

Nothing to explain, really.

Quite right.........."nothing to explain really".

We are corrupt, always have been and always will be......it's what we do, it's in our nature, so nothing will change.