Bangladeshi fisherman testifies in human trafficking case hearing

KESINEE TAENGKHIEO

THE NATION

BANGKOK:-- PUBLIC prosecutors yesterday brought a 23-year-old Bangladeshi fisherman to testify in the first session of the advance hearing into the human-trafficking case involving Rohingya and other migrants at Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court.

The hearing was held with only defendants, witnesses, public prosecutors and defence lawyers present. The court said that relatives and media members could attend and listen to the testimonies via a live closed-circuit TV broadcast in another room, but they could not record or publish the content as it could affect the trial if other witnesses in the case knew it.

Ninety suspects were brought from detention facilities to attend the session.

The court had set the advance hearing on the public prosecutor's side in eight sessions, which would be held from December 24-25, January 7-8, and January 12-15.

The advance hearing session was part of the case against 90 suspects, including Banjong Pongpol, the former mayor of Songkhla's Muang Padang Besar, former Satun Provincial Administrative Organisation president Pajjuban "Ko Tong" Angchotephan, and former Army special adviser Lt-General Manas Khongpaen.

The suspects are facing 16 charges including violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Act of Suppression and Prevention of Transnational Criminal Organisations and the Immigration Act. The case was initially heard at Songkhla's Na Thawee Provincial Court but was transferred to the newly established Criminal Court's Human Trafficking Case Division on October 10.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bangladeshi-fisherman-testifies-in-human-trafficki-30275634.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-25

...what sense does it make to put the victims....and the defendants in the same room....

...the defendants have money...power...etc....

...the victims are virtually disposable slaves....

...do you think this scenario will encourage.........or discourage... testimony....

On June 12, the United Nations decided in Geneva an agreement, according to which perpetrators should be punished, forcing people into forced labor. Almost all Gulf states abstained.

Thailand's new government was the only one who voted against the agreement. The governments of the countries of Bahrain, Brunei, Kuwait, Iran, Yemen, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia abstained. All other UN member states voted in favor of the agreement.

That explains a lot!

I wonder if he will get out of Thailand alive

They are not in the same room - the witnesses are testifying by video conference.

Also among the accused should be an army colonel and two captains from the Internal Operation Security Command, a government counter-insurgency agency that operates in South Thailand. If these mid-level officers are not part of the ninety defendents that includes a flag officer, the question arises as to whether they have been sequestered for special treatment. Their conviction would be an embarrasment to the Prayut regime and the creditability of IOSC.

The Thai judicial system works in mysterious ways. After one burglary, we had nailed on suspects, who happened to be a cousin of my wife, and her husband. Not go into all the reasons to suspect them,but they ended up sitting opposite the assigned detective,whilst my wife sat next to them detailing the reasons for our suspicion. I was gobsmacked, but better was to follow. My wife was invited to write out a horrendous curse, along the lines of a long painful death from cancer, followed by a million years as a hungry ghost. Then we all trooped off to the shrine of King Naresuan where they lit candles and swore on pain of this curse, that they had no connection to the burglary. Police immediately ruled them out as suspects. Since then, nothing the RTP do will surprise me.

The Thai judicial system works in mysterious ways. After one burglary, we had nailed on suspects, who happened to be a cousin of my wife, and her husband. Not go into all the reasons to suspect them,but they ended up sitting opposite the assigned detective,whilst my wife sat next to them detailing the reasons for our suspicion. I was gobsmacked, but better was to follow. My wife was invited to write out a horrendous curse, along the lines of a long painful death from cancer, followed by a million years as a hungry ghost. Then we all trooped off to the shrine of King Naresuan where they lit candles and swore on pain of this curse, that they had no connection to the burglary. Police immediately ruled them out as suspects. Since then, nothing the RTP do will surprise me.

interesting post, strange as it may seem that would have worked in Isaan,rather than submit to such a curse most would admit their guilt.

The Thai 'Witness Protection Program' only lasts until the first verdict is given. As we saw with the 4 policemen sentenced to death a few years back, and then immediately bailed by the judge, the witnesses lost protection during the appeal. I believe at least one of them died and others have refused to testify again. I would be nice if we could see something criminalizing the intimidation of witnesses in the new constitution.

I think that, if found guilty, the accused will be bailed on appeal and I feel that the appeal trial may not convict due to lack of witnesses appearing.

Also among the accused should be an army colonel and two captains from the Internal Operation Security Command, a government counter-insurgency agency that operates in South Thailand. If these mid-level officers are not part of the ninety defendents that includes a flag officer, the question arises as to whether they have been sequestered for special treatment. Their conviction would be an embarrasment to the Prayut regime and the creditability of IOSC.

The whole new regime is no better than the true elected official elections. Nothing changes hide there true identity and protect the Army and government official so it does not show how bad Thailand really is in trafficking. They can lie to the Thai people but the world leaders are not blind. Maybe another new song needed!