Bangkok police chief vows to punish five station heads if graft stickers surface in their responsible areas



BANGKOK: -- The acting commissioner of Metropolitan Police Bureau yesterday vowed to remove five top police officers of any police station in Bangkok if the so-called "stickers" surface again in their areas of responsibilities.

The strong warning by Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn came as migrant workers were found to show the stickers when they were arrested by police for illegally selling merchandises on sidewalks and streets.

Latest inspection on several sidewalks in Bangkok’s China Town by the labour officials yesterday also found several migrant workers, mostly Myanmar, vending on streets and sidewalks.

Upon arrested by labour inspectors, the migrant workers showed them “stickers” saying they were told that the stickers could help to clear police away from them.

They also said their employers have paid to obtain these stickers so they could continue vending free of police interventions.

The stickers found in three forms such as Doraemon – a popular Japanese cartoon character; dices, and automobiles.

But so far no official action has been taken.

The migrant workers said these stickers allow them to sell stuff on the street without fear of official intervention as bribes have been paid but so far the identity of the person or persons who issued them is unknown.

The acting commissioner stated that although the case actually falls under the jurisdiction of the Immigration department, the police station in charge of the vicinity must take action on the matter.

He said that he will be calling a meeting with all police stations in Bangkok this afternoon to order action to be taken on the matter of these stickers.

He vowed that if any of these stickers surface again within the following weeks, immediate disciplinary action will be taken on all 5 heads of the police station that is in charge of the area.

Yesterday officials from the Department of Employment made an inspection of shops and businesses located in China Town.

They discovered at least three Myanmar workers were selling packaged soya bean milk.

Upon seeing the arrival of officials, these foreign nationals quickly showed their dice pictured stickers which they say they were told to do by their employers.

One man revealed that he has been in the country for more than 3 years.

He said that he was previously employed as a painter but the earnings were small and he quit and began selling soya bean milk which he says allows him to make 500 baht a day.

As he had no legal working permits, his Thai employer gave him the dice pictured sticker to carry with him so that he would not be arrested.

Similarly, two other Myanmar workers were also seen vending in the area.

Both also had similar stickers but when they were questioned they stated that they did not know the identity of the person that employed them.

Papers that contain the address of the company that actually did the hiring were the only documents that they carried.

Employment officer Chaithat na Nakorn said whenever officials make an inspection, these stickers were regularly shown to officials.

He said so far they have no information on these stickers but an investigation has been ordered to look into the matter.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/165380

-- Thai PBS 2016-05-31

"He vowed that if any of these stickers surface again within the following weeks, immediate disciplinary action will be taken ..."

And do what....Transfer them to Chonburi with no reduction in pay? That will teach them how serious they are about dishonesty among the police.

Edited May 31, 201610 yr by jaltsc

I feel for any Asian tourists with children trudging about wearing any Doraemon gear.

Suspend them and start prosecuting. If found guilty, fire them and put them in prison. Then again...TiT.

after stickers what will the next 'licence' symbol be?, i am sure the rent collectors have it worked out already.

Why if they surface again?? Why not now.

Police oversight of these cases= Dracula in charge of the blood bank.

Of course, it's all about those embarrassing stickers, the tangible evidence of corruption.

There must be some way to solve this vexing problem.

May I suggest a weekly code word instead?

Vows to punish station heads

Show me an honest copper and i will show you a liar.

A dice Sticker.
Wonderful idea.
That would make superfluous, all the running arounds for passports, work permits, visas and reporting procedures.

I think he means he will punish the stations if he doesn't get his proper cut.

Must be one mother of a misunderstanding, couldn't possibly be anything to do with bribes, all the BIB are clean, honest and hard-working officials only interested in the betterment of Thailand, but fortunately I woke up from the nightmare and realised it wasn't 1st April.

I will punish you this time and I really mean it, see how serious I am, I am stamping my feet and holding my breath in temper.

Will someone get the office cleaner to find my dummy, it's out in the car park somewhere.

"He vowed that if any of these stickers surface again within the following weeks, immediate disciplinary action will be taken ..."

And do what....Transfer them to Chonburi with no reduction in pay? That will teach them how serious they are about dishonesty among the police.

Hmmm.

So he doesn't mind the police being corrupt, he just doesn't like people laughing at them for it.

OK, I think I got that.

Lese polizei?

W

Edited May 31, 201610 yr by Winniedapu

Again, when they actually sack someone for corruption (and I don't mean moving them to an "inactive" post), then I'll believe they are serious.

Until then, it's just more hot air, some fake indignation, and business as usual.

So they are going to change stickers?

Why if they surface again?? Why not now.

And only in the coming weeks! After that, when the newspapers forget, its back to business as usual boys!!

I think the next ID will be a top secret hand shake. Oh I forgot Thai do not do handshake, back to drawing board.

Possibly a little tap dance would be more fitting .

But only yesterday afternoon a police spokesman was insisting the villains were fake coppers.

Confused.

Looks like the whole "let's blame everything on the foreigners " song and dance is backfiring this time.

Well, now folks know how to affect the employment of five police chiefs in Bangkok . . .

If only you could believe the Police Chief.

Corruption/cronyism and transparency are not likely bedmates.

Suspend them and start prosecuting. If found guilty, fire them and put them in prison. Then again...TiT.

Thais know best.

Falang hansum but no unnerstan Thai peeple.

Winnie