Thai policeman jailed 15 years for selling drugs, demanding bribe

[webfact]

Policeman jailed 15 years for selling drugs, demanding bribe
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- A former Bangkok police detective was jailed for 15 years and fined Bt1.2 million on Thursday for demanding a bribe from a drug suspect and selling narcotics.

 

The court found Senior Sergeant-Major Thirachat-at Mueangkrajang, 53, guilty of abusing his authority by demanding bribes and of setting up his own drug ring.

 

Thirachat-at was a detective at Bang Khunthien police station until he was arrested on March 11 last year.

 

After the arrest, police found 0.754 gram of crystal methamphetamine and 0.268 gram of marijuana in Thirachat-at’s desk at the police station.

 

He was charged with demanding a bribe from a suspect, Pichet (surname withheld as he is facing trial in another case), and after Pichet did not come up with the money, Thirachat-at acquired drugs from the suspect to resell.

 

The court was told that Thirachat-at had Sayan (surname withheld) sell the drug for him and the money was wired into his account by a woman.

 

The court ruled that the evidence against Thirachat-at was indisputable and the two other suspects also implicated him, although their terms would not be reduced.

 

The court sentenced Thirachat-at to 15 years in jail and a fine of Bt1.2 million for selling “ice” and nine more months in jail for having marijuana in his possession for sale.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30314214

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-04

 

[darksidedog]

Amazing. Abusing his authority by setting up his own drug ring? Nine months for having less than a spliff of weed with intent to sell?

Fifteen years for less than a gram of Ice? Evidence from suspects with other cases considered indisputable?

This doesn't sound normal. I wonder who he pissed off.

 

[cocorico2558]

If they would take action on all of these things every single policeman would be in jail!

[mikebell]

Another day - another bent copper!  Is there no vetting process?

[tomwct]

Now the appeals start! Hopefully he still has a few million baht to pay for lawyers to keep him out of jail for the next 15 years.

Unlike most countries you can appeal after you have been found guilty and stay out on bond. Most countries you go to jail

and appeal while doing your sentence. In Thailand, only the poor go to jail right away.

[worgeordie]

No inactive posting, must have really pissed someone off.

regards worgeordie

[klauskunkel]

silly man, you do that sort of a thing once you are a Lt. Col. and up.

a mere Sgt.Maj. will just be used as a show piece for "justice" and "police clean up"

[soalbundy]

The only unusual thing in this case is that he was found guilty.

[gemguy]

1 hour ago, tomwct said:

Now the appeals start! Hopefully he still has a few million baht to pay for lawyers to keep him out of jail for the next 15 years.

Unlike most countries you can appeal after you have been found guilty and stay out on bond. Most countries you go to jail

and appeal while doing your sentence. In Thailand, only the poor go to jail right away.

Yes....and most of them that do turn corrupt do it with the belief they will not be prosecuted because....... they are the police...... and operate with impunity .......an obviously developed mentality that starts right from the beginning of their police career because they know they are surrounded by officers that are making sideline money in numerous ways and often tempted to join in.

It is just a matter of time and or the right opportunity to capitalise on their position as police officers.

Cheers 

[Ulic]

A good start but far from the 30 years the mushroom pickers were originally sentenced to. 

[Khon Kaen Dave]

19 minutes ago, gemguy said:

Yes....and most of them that do turn corrupt do it with the belief they will not be prosecuted because....... they are the police...... and operate with impunity .......an obviously developed mentality that starts right from the beginning of their police career because they know they are surrounded by officers that are making sideline money in numerous ways and often tempted to join in.

It is just a matter of time and or the right opportunity to capitalise on their position as police officers.

Cheers 

Once in a while, they have to do it to a lower, middle ranked officer. It keeps the stupid felang's quiet. They believe they are showing us that they have a viable justice system.

 This guy will be lost in the prison system for about 6 months, and then turn up again in a province some 300 miles away. It all goes away, like mist on the wind.

[TheFishman1]

Small amounts to get 15 yrs he probably really pissed off the wrong guy TIT

[scorecard]

19 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Amazing. Abusing his authority by setting up his own drug ring? Nine months for having less than a spliff of weed with intent to sell?

Fifteen years for less than a gram of Ice? Evidence from suspects with other cases considered indisputable?

This doesn't sound normal. I wonder who he pissed off.

 

 

I wonder why his superior officer didn't suspect anything and doesn't check the performance / activities etc., of his team?

Edited May 5, 2017 by scorecard

[sanukjim]

6 hours ago, mikebell said:

Another day - another bent copper!  Is there no vetting process?

I am sure that several of the inmates in the prison are just waiting to welcome him and take him "under" their wings as a show of camaraderie.55555

[williamgeorgeallen]

i smell a rat. this sounds like one of those stories about a taxi driver returning a wallet left in their taxi.

[sandemara]

Little fish.