British bar owner bribery case: Koh Phangan official transferred

 

Image: Thai News Agency

 

KOH PHANGAN:-- The local official at the center of bribery allegations made by a British bar owner on Koh Phangan has been transferred.

The order to remove Wisarut Dechhun came in a special directive from the Surat governor. Wisarut will be confined to clerical duties at the town hall in Surat Thani while an investigation takes place.

Word came from the governor's office that the official, a deputy administrator on the holiday island, had been involved in similar allegations before.

Bar owner Lance ,50, alleges that the official had him and others hauled to local offices on the island where 21,000 was taken from a cash machine in exchange for not prosecuting him.

 

He said just 900 baht was returned to him from the till.

He alleged that this was not the first time he had fallen victim to such activity. He said that his operation is all above board.

The latest incident happened on Tuesday at 1am in the morning.

The official has said that he is wholly innocent of the charges and has never taken money in bribes.

 

Source: Thai News Agency

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-09-18

Yeah, that'll fix that crooked cop!  If the government was serious about corruption, jail time is needed.  But it is so rife in so many areas, nothing will be done.

Lance had better be very careful.

He has caused a Thai official to lose face,  and that cannot go unpunished.

1 day soon Lance will have an  unexplained accident.

Dangerous, life is cheap!

Crooked cops are not charged here. It is part of the quid pro quo the government has with the revenue collection department (the cops). We will not pay you a decent salary. We will not give you the proper equipment or training, or supplies. In exchange, you are free to do as you like, within reason, and you will never, ever be arrested for your crimes. Transfer is the most common way to address wrongdoing. At full pay (which, admittedly is a pittance, as part of the quid pro quo). 

This story sums up Thailand's problems in a nutshell.

Transferred away so he can do it somewhere else. Should have been sacked on the spot and made an example of so other 'officials' can see the consequences.

T.I.T

Word came from the governor's office that the official, a deputy administrator on the holiday island, had been involved in similar allegations before.

Apparently this is not the first time.
A serial offender.

4 hours ago, Bobobirdiebuddy said:

Yeah, that'll fix that crooked cop!  If the government was serious about corruption, jail time is needed.  But it is so rife in so many areas, nothing will be done.

 

Stay with it.

 

He is not a cop.

No investigation for unusual wealth????

33 minutes ago, KBsinter said:

No investigation for unusual wealth????

 

One does wonder why some laws are even on the books given the outright refusal to use them when they would be extrememely effective in evidence.  One can only assume they do not really want to find out the truth.

Oh no, the dreaded transfer to another post.

With such harsh penalties it makes me wonder how corruption is still so rampant

No doubt, the previous allegations were investigated?

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

At full pay (which, admittedly is a pittance, as part of the quid pro quo). 

 

Well.... almost. There won't be too many bar owners he can shake down for 21 grand in the Surat Thani town hall.

10 minutes ago, bino said:

 

Well.... almost. There won't be too many bar owners he can shake down for 21 grand in the Surat Thani town hall.

 

And that is a beautiful thing. But, how long do you think he will remain on desk duty? Where is the oversight? What is the incentive to keep him off the streets, when the majority of the force is engaged in the same types of crime?

At least something is done, it's a beginning.

Prior to leaving his establishment he should have demanded a count of the money in the register and have an official sign a document indicating the amount. If they refused- a call to the police as these were not police officers. Frankly, I would never open a business in Thailand just for the reasons presented in this incident.

6 hours ago, colinneil said:

Lance had better be very careful.

He has caused a Thai official to lose face,  and that cannot go unpunished.

1 day soon Lance will have an  unexplained accident.

Grassing Thais

Suicide is Dangerous.   

18 minutes ago, ScotBkk said:

Grassing Thais

Suicide is Dangerous.   

 

Grassing Thais to Thais is dangerous?

 

Rubbish!

Have you noticed that every Thai, when caught, rolls over and grasses up his associates? Usually without any urging on the part of the BiB..........

It's the Thai way. As is running straight to your home village to hide.

Many posters on this thread think the "corrupt official" is a policeman. He is not a policeman. He was the subject of a police investigation. He is a district official.

I think Lance should get outa Dodge !!!   

 

Not by accident, we mostly seem to the same take on this.

this is not bribery cases. in bribery cases someone offers the bribe and expects favourable response from the receipient.

 

this is a robbery case in which money was removed from the till and kept  by the officer. 

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

Many posters on this thread think the "corrupt official" is a policeman. He is not a policeman. He was the subject of a police investigation. He is a district official.

he robbed.

1 hour ago, ScotBkk said:

Grassing Thais

Suicide is Dangerous.   

what choice did Lance have in the whole episode. he refuses to entertain the officer's  request Lance is doomed. He is also doomed if he condescends.

2 hours ago, Thaidream said:

Prior to leaving his establishment he should have demanded a count of the money in the register and have an official sign a document indicating the amount. If they refused- a call to the police as these were not police officers. Frankly, I would never open a business in Thailand just for the reasons presented in this incident.

doing business in Thailand would you take that initiative. better to fold the business instead.

2 hours ago, Michael8511 said:

At least something is done, it's a beginning.

depends on how deep rooted the problem is.

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Crooked cops are not charged here. It is part of the quid pro quo the government has with the revenue collection department (the cops). We will not pay you a decent salary. We will not give you the proper equipment or training, or supplies. In exchange, you are free to do as you like, within reason, and you will never, ever be arrested for your crimes. Transfer is the most common way to address wrongdoing. At full pay (which, admittedly is a pittance, as part of the quid pro quo). 

sad state of affairs  and i wonder which moron foreigner will agree to do business in thailand on those terms (implied).

"At least something is done, it's a beginning."

Don't kid yourself. Nothing was done. At best it was a temporary 'band-aid' (plaster).

 

The greatest problem 'westerners' in have is that they think that the rest of the world thinks like them. If you doubt my words, just look at the history of American Foreign Policy.

2 hours ago, lgking said:

"At least something is done, it's a beginning."

Don't kid yourself. Nothing was done. At best it was a temporary 'band-aid' (plaster).

 

The greatest problem 'westerners' in have is that they think that the rest of the world thinks like them. If you doubt my words, just look at the history of American Foreign Policy.

Indeed yes.

 

Transferring the norms, conventions, rules and ways of doing things onto a society that is structured and run very differently.

 

Of course, we are assuming that the British bar owner doesn't have high-level connections. Maybe the press report and the police complaint are just belt and braces while the real wheels of power grind away behind the scenes and get the petty thief/district official packed off to Surat Thani.

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Crooked cops are not charged here. It is part of the quid pro quo the government has with the revenue collection department (the cops). We will not pay you a decent salary. We will not give you the proper equipment or training, or supplies. In exchange, you are free to do as you like, within reason, and you will never, ever be arrested for your crimes. Transfer is the most common way to address wrongdoing. At full pay (which, admittedly is a pittance, as part of the quid pro quo). 

I couldn't have put it better myself!