Stop the Mafia! - forty motorcycle boys complain about extortion

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Stop the Mafia! - forty motorcycle boys complain about extortion

Image: Daily News

BANGKOK:-- A group of 40 motorcycle taxi riders have complained about extortion at the hands of three alleged racketeers leaning on them in Sukhumvit Road Soi 81.

The area is a "golden route" for motorcycle riders with more than 150 of their number plying the nearby sois. Influential mafia figures in the area angry that they find themselves unable to get ready cash as they used to before the riders were registered by the government, are ow trying to get back their piece of the action.

And the motorcycle riders have said enough is enough. They appealed en masse to the police at the Prakhanong station to arrest and prosecute a man and his two children for extortion and loan sharking.

The three individuals are understood to have already been arrested on weapons and racketeering charges on Friday but were allowed to walk free on bail. No sooner were they back in the area than the trouble began again for the "win" service that operates there.

Samran Wankhamkut representing the riders said they appeal for justice claiming that the influential character in the area and his children are causing them hardship. He said that Soi 81 is a "golden area" for the "win" service and that the mafia want to get back what they had lost when the government started to register all jacketed riders.

"Many riders have given up working in the area," he said. "Some who were in debt to the mafia returned their jackets to them to pay off the debts. These are then sold to new riders for 7,000 baht a month to have the right to operate in their area,

"These influential people have lost money and are angry and they have been threatening us all over again."

All three of the influential figures were arrested and bailed last week. They are also believed to be connected to an unregistered service operating in the On Nut area of Sukhumvit. Police said yesterday that they will be called in to face the extortion claims and further allegations of loan sharking.

This time they say that the matter will go to court and bail will be denied them.

Source: Daily News: http://www.dailynews.co.th/crime/508686

-- 2016-07-13

[Johnniey]

These guys should take the law into their own hands.

[Thian]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

[Artisi]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

[BigBadGeordie]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Or perhaps the M'cyc chaps may be able to improve their (and their families) standards of living/lifestyle/food/childrens education etc. Now that they do not have to pay the mafia 7000 Baht a month.

But hey, ......ah it does not matter.

[brucec64]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Or, the most likely scenario is that the police are downstream beneficiaries of the 7000 payment, and nothing changes.

[Bender]

the irony is, the country is under a military regime, but the mafia still can do whatever they want.

[Thian]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

[Thian]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Or perhaps the M'cyc chaps may be able to improve their (and their families) standards of living/lifestyle/food/childrens education etc. Now that they do not have to pay the mafia 7000 Baht a month.

But hey, ......ah it does not matter.

They could first start to make their customers' lives more safe by not driving against traffic and obeying trafficrules.

After that they could install a backrest on their buddyseat so passengers can sit more safe, install a proper taxistand instead of those ugly roofs.

But it's better to clean up the sidewalks so people can walk there and won't need motocy taxi's.

[BigBadGeordie]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

Deflection!

Do you seriously think that paying 7000Baht a month had no impact on these people and their families. So they should just say, hey don't have to pay the mafia anymore, lets just continue to suffer and give the customers a cheaper ride

[BigBadGeordie]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Or perhaps the M'cyc chaps may be able to improve their (and their families) standards of living/lifestyle/food/childrens education etc. Now that they do not have to pay the mafia 7000 Baht a month.

But hey, ......ah it does not matter.

They could first start to make their customers' lives more safe by not driving against traffic and obeying trafficrules.

After that they could install a backrest on their buddyseat so passengers can sit more safe, install a proper taxistand instead of those ugly roofs.

But it's better to clean up the sidewalks so people can walk there and won't need motocy taxi's.

Deflection again.

[Artisi]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

Airline tickets / fuel costs are a completely different animal than being screwed by the mafia. I would think that most people could understand the difference - - most.

[Thian]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

Deflection!

Do you seriously think that paying 7000Baht a month had no impact on these people and their families. So they should just say, hey don't have to pay the mafia anymore, lets just continue to suffer and give the customers a cheaper ride

They sure made much more then 7000 a month, maffiatricks only drive the prices up which the customers will pay for at the end of the line.

But nobody told them to do this job, if they can get better money elsewhere they are free to go.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

Deflection!

Do you seriously think that paying 7000Baht a month had no impact on these people and their families. So they should just say, hey don't have to pay the mafia anymore, lets just continue to suffer and give the customers a cheaper ride

They sure made much more then 7000 a month, maffiatricks only drive the prices up which the customers will pay for at the end of the line.

But nobody told them to do this job, if they can get better money elsewhere they are free to go.

And you are also free to walk.

[Thian]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

Deflection!

Do you seriously think that paying 7000Baht a month had no impact on these people and their families. So they should just say, hey don't have to pay the mafia anymore, lets just continue to suffer and give the customers a cheaper ride

They sure made much more then 7000 a month, maffiatricks only drive the prices up which the customers will pay for at the end of the line.

But nobody told them to do this job, if they can get better money elsewhere they are free to go.

And you are also free to walk.

Yup and free to drive my own motocycle or car or skytrain or taxi....In fact i have never used a motocy taxi in Thailand and i love it.

They only bring us food and even then i let my wife pay them

[KhaoNiaw]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

You have no idea how these 'wins' operate.

They're talking about a registered stand and the fares are already fixed. The story doesn't say that all of the riders are paying 7,000 baht, only that new riders who have got jackets that were given to the extortionists to pay off debts have to pay this amount to 'rent' the jackets.

That means these guys have to follow the fixed fares and earn 7,000 baht to pay for the jacket before they can start earning for themselves. Therefore, they are 7,000 a month out of pocket compared to other registered drivers, who are obviously coming under pressure to part with some of their own earnings, hence the trip to the police station.

I doubt that the extortionists are very particular about who they rent jackets to either so it becomes a way to completely circumvent the registration process, which is at least some kind of attempt to deal with the safety issues you would like to see resolved.

[tomacht8]

Good experience for the motorcycle taxi riders.
When they are stay together, they can achieve something.
Hopefully they will get rid of - no matter which - this mafia.

Edited July 13, 2016 by tomacht8

[thequietman]

Police said yesterday that they will be called in to face the extortion claims and further allegations of loan sharking.

[cockatoowho]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Or perhaps the M'cyc chaps may be able to improve their (and their families) standards of living/lifestyle/food/childrens education etc. Now that they do not have to pay the mafia 7000 Baht a month.

But hey, ......ah it does not matter.

They could first start to make their customers' lives more safe by not driving against traffic and obeying trafficrules.

After that they could install a backrest on their buddyseat so passengers can sit more safe, install a proper taxistand instead of those ugly roofs.

But it's better to clean up the sidewalks so people can walk there and won't need motocy taxi's.

How the hell have you survived in Thailand so long with your attitude, does anything ever fit your demeanour?

Edited July 13, 2016 by cockatoowho

[Moonmoon]

prey n extort the poor n powerless, good on the motorcycles drivers for uniting n standing together.

[arithai12]

The three individuals are understood to have already been arrested on weapons and racketeering charges on Friday but were allowed to walk free on bail.No sooner were they back in the area than the trouble began again for the "win" service that operates there.

Well obviously they had to go back to their business, there was a bail to pay.

[Siam122]

They are the complices of lady Kai

[MaxLee]

the irony is, the country is under a military regime, but the mafia still can do whatever they want.

That's because that powerful institution, that you mentioned and which must not be named IS A POWERFUL MAFIA itself

[balo]

the irony is, the country is under a military regime, but the mafia still can do whatever they want.

Maybe in the past , but things are changing slowly under the military , or else we wouldn't read stories like these in Thai media. I think it's a good thing . I would call it progress.

[dageurreotype]

Some while back, I'd read a very interesting article on how these 'wins' operate. Each win is controlled by the police in their particular area. Hence these 'extortionists' being let off, what with either being actual police or family thereof. I'm guessing these motosai guys thought that with the military in control, if they'd all turned up at the local plod shop en masse something might be done about their problem. Apparently not. Although their is some irony in that both their hero Taksin who had put a stop to this during his tenure, and the cops are er, both 'redshirts'. Allegedly. Perhaps another item on Prayut's 'to do' list.

[thesetat2013]

I'm surprised that Noone has commented as of yet that here we have the police once again saying more than they should.

Yesterday they said the extortionit's will be called in and this time they will be refused bail and held in jail.

I don't know about you all. But if I read or heard this about me. I surely would not be going to the police station when they attempt to call me in. In fact, hiding out or making a runner would be most probable.

So why would the police advertise their intentions to an influential figure? Something doesn't add up unless this influential figure has police protection.

Edited July 13, 2016 by thesetat2013

[NongKhaiKid]

So no chance the motorcycle mafia are in cahoots with the other mafia, you know the ones supposedly handling this case ?

[JMWPACIFIC]

I guess infulential people don't have names.

[Laughing Gravy]

Whilst I disagree with extortion by anyone and the police should just arrest them, can someone tell me what the difference is when bar owners on sukhumvit pay the police more than 7,000 baht a month to the police, for erm 'administration fees'. Its all the same protection money. Same tactic, different mafia.

[SABloke]

So will the fares be lower after the motocy taxi's won't have to pay the 7000 a month?

Why should it be lower, even motocy taxi drivers need to eat and possibly support a family, or are you just another one of the cheap charlie's who likes to screw everyone.

If you want to support them then feel free to do so.

If they can drop their operational costs by 7000 a month they should share that with their customers.

Or are you one of those guys who think airflight tickets should stay high even after the fuel drops half in price?

Deflection!

Do you seriously think that paying 7000Baht a month had no impact on these people and their families. So they should just say, hey don't have to pay the mafia anymore, lets just continue to suffer and give the customers a cheaper ride

I don't think they need to lower their fares and sure, now they will earn a little more, but to say that they "suffer" is a bit of a stretch. 6 short trips (30 min actual working time) already gets you minimum wage, then between trips you chill, smoke, eat and (bad ones) get on the piss