9 policemen sacked as Mae Hong Son child-sex investigation widens

[rooster59]

9 policemen sacked as Mae Hong Son child-sex investigation widens

By THE NATION

 

 

NINE MAE HONG SON police-men have been dismissed from the civil service and put under serious disciplinary investigation after being implicated in the northern province’s underage prostitution scandal.

 

They could also face legal action for their alleged involvement in the teenage vice ring, deputy national chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said yesterday.

 

The nine officers include alleged racket operator Pol Senior Sgt Major Yutthachai Thongchat of Nam Piang Din police station, three officers under Kong Koi police station who face charges of gang-raping of a minor, and five policemen for whom summonses were issued for over accusation that they paid to have sex with minors.

 

Srivara said police investigators were gathering evidence against seven more suspects – including several state officials, a soldier and a local politician – and hoped to make arrests soon.

 

He was speaking at Chiang Mai’s Provincial Police Region 5 office where he presided over a meeting to discuss an anti-human trafficking crackdown. 

Srivara said the Mae Hong Son investigation saw local police handle 37 cases – 29 of human trafficking, seven of buying sex services, and one gang rape of minor – while the Anti-Human Traffic Division (AHTD) handled one human trafficking case in which all eight suspects had been arrested, including Yutthachai.

 

Earlier yesterday, Srivara went to Mae Hong Son to check progress in the investigation. He met some of the four police who showed up in response to summonses yesterday, but a teacher who reportedly moved away from the province failed to show up.

 

The fifth police officer, a deputy superintendent who is a lieutenant colonel, also did not appear, claiming he was preoccupied with work. But his supervisor said he had not been assigned with any mission. 

 

Although the officer, who also now faces an investigation for omission of duty, is believed to have fled, investigators issued a second summons for him. If he fails to respond by May 15, an arrest warrant will be obtained. 

 

Srivara also visited a police flat where the missing officer allegedly took a minor for sex but it was empty.

 

Also yesterday, a master sergeant under the Internal Security Operations Command, identified by victims as “Uncle Pan”, went to the Mae Hong Son police office to report to Srivara and hand over documents he said proved his innocence, but missed him. However, he caught up later at Mae Hong Son airport.

 

“Uncle Pan” said he knew the girls but his involvement with them was for intelligence-gathering purposes against the prostitution ring.

 

Although the AHTD earlier said there was no evidence that Mae Hong Son governor Suebsak Iamwichan was involved in human trafficking, Srivara said police would continue to investigate if he was guilty of buying sex services. 

 

He said two witnesses who passed a lie detector test testified against the governor, which contradicted an Interior Ministry probe that initially cleared the governor. He said police would ask for more details of the interior ministry’s investigation. 

 

Before Srivara left for Chiang Mai, the Civic Council of Mae Hong Son, presided over by Prasert Pradit, submitted its resolution on tackling human trafficking and prostitution to Srivara in the wake of the scandal. The council wants Srivara to pass the resolution on to the Prime Minister to request the province be turned into a pilot area for the government’s serious tackling of human trafficking, illegal lotteries, illicit drugs and corruption. 

 

They also proposed three phrases of problem solving. 

 

The short-term solution included protection and help for victims, clear and fair investigations, and police actions to punish those involved. 

 

The medium-term solution included a follow-up process for this scandal and any similar cases in future, a symbolic campaign against human trafficking, promotion of whistle-blowing against illegal activities in the area, and regular checks by authorities on establishments that have been involved in human trafficking. 

 

In the longer term, the council said there must be a campaign to promote proper values, as well as support for the province’s attempts to curb poverty and become a model in social and economic development. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30314371

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-06

[darksidedog]

Police sacked rather than moved to inactive post is good, but if they were involved, they should be charged and jailed.

I am still waiting for ANYONE senior to be arrested. This case was all about sex for high officials.Why are none so far in custody, or even being questioned?

[colinneil]

Nice one, but please keep going, so far only uncovered a hand full, probably many more.

[tomwct]

• Photo of Governor or School Director not on Photo Op? I wonder why?

[clockman]

Just the scapegoats. Same as the South people smuggling?

[Jeremy50]

Uncle Pan. All sorts of connotations in that name.  Peter Pan.  The god Pan, who was similar to a satyr and loved to hang about with nymphs. Oh well, I guess the fun and games are over. They need to find the teacher who was probably procuring girls from his school.

[jaltsc]

"NINE MAE HONG SON police-men have been dismissed from the civil service and put under serious disciplinary investigation after being implicated in the northern province’s underage prostitution scandal."

 

Let's wait and see what "dismissed" means in the coming months. A few years ago it was reported that a Pai (Maehongson District) police officer was in prison as a result of murdering a Canadian. A few days later he was back on the street, drunk and still armed with a weapon. It was only after he murdered his wife that he was finally jailed, tried and convicted. 

 

If the witnesses never show up to offer evidence, all charges will be dismissed and most likely the police will be transferred. What a shocker that would be!!!

Edited May 6, 2017 by jaltsc

[pentap]

If they've been sacked, why alleged? Am I missing something..?

If all are guilty:
Prison sentences should be handed out.
Wide spread Public humiliation.
Pensions taken away from them.
Registered on a sex offenders list. That's if they have that kind of operation in Thailand?


Those individuals are/where pillars of the community. A privileged position clearly abused!

And what about the victims, their close family and friends?

What support will the victims receive? Money!

Yet another sad report.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[klauskunkel]

Looks like there is progress, I wait and see...

and, wow, a Lt. Col. I knew there would be one of those: summoned once, now believed fugitive, hence summoned again 

and then there is this: "request the province be turned into a pilot area for the government’s serious tackling of human trafficking", are they serious? By contrast, the government's tackling in other provinces is more of a tickling?

[Psimbo]

Sacking is the first part of the process, for all those beating their chests with angst. Criminal charges THEN follow.

 

Its the cops way of not bringing disrepute (or so THEY think) to the RTP.

Edited May 6, 2017 by Psimbo

[rkidlad]

'They could also face legal action for their alleged involvement in the teenage vice ring'

 

Well, it's only paedophilia and statutory rape. It's not as if it's as serious as filing a complaint for a missing plaque or clicking like on Facebook. 

 

Morality here is really hitting an all time low. 

 

 

[worgeordie]

"Srivara also visited a police flat where the missing officer allegedly took a minor for sex but it was empty."

hope he was not expecting to find the policeman "on the job".

regards worgeordie

[thequietman]

Blah, blah, blah, may be ....., blah, blah, blah, could be ........, blah,blah,blah, should be........, blah, blah, blah, blah, might be....., blah, blah, blah, brought to justice.......... blah, blah, blah, committee, blah, blah, <deleted> blah !

 

This is all subterfuge and if none of you see it, then you are blind or stubborn. As one other poster said, if it goes to court and they get prison, they will be out in weeks. 

 

 

[sanukjim]

3 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Police sacked rather than moved to inactive post is good, but if they were involved, they should be charged and jailed.

I am still waiting for ANYONE senior to be arrested. This case was all about sex for high officials.Why are none so far in custody, or even being questioned?

Maybe they were just moved to a deeper inactive post and not truly sacked.

[cyberfarang]

.

[12DrinkMore]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“Uncle Pan” said he knew the girls but his involvement with them was for intelligence-gathering purposes

 

I have heard that defence before, wonder how many repeat visits he had made and surely each visit will be carefully documented as he collected the "evidence"?

 

And I wonder if he found any intelligence?

[sawadee1947]

I wonder what will happen to the other police men who knew that but kept their mouth shut? Continue business?

[seajae]

so they sacked the junior officers but not the lt colonel that has done a runner and they still will not issue an arrest warrant for him, certainly shows how serious they are about this doesnt it. Are we once again going to see them drag this out so that any high ups are not put out like usual, way past time for those involved in crap like this to be simply arrested and thrown in jail like they do in other countries instead of pandered to so they dont lose face and courts refusing to issue arrest warrants due to who they are, again we see the pathetic side to thai law enforcement

 

Edited May 6, 2017 by seajae

[IAMHERE]

People would ask me if there was child prostitution in Thailand; I always said I don't know. Now I can cop to an answer.

[elgordo38]

18 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

The fifth police officer, a deputy superintendent who is a lieutenant colonel, also did not appear, claiming he was preoccupied with work. But his supervisor said he had not been assigned with any mission. 

An original excuse if I ever heard one. Start without me. 

[yardrunner]

21 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Police sacked rather than moved to inactive post

that would be nice to see in some other cases

[tomacht8]

The fifth police officer, a deputy superintendent who is a lieutenant colonel, also did not appear, claiming he was preoccupied with work.

 

He trying the red bull boss heir strategy.

- preoccupied -