Police parading of suspects to press banned after high-profile controversies

[rooster59]

Police parading of suspects to press banned after high-profile controversies

By THE NATION

 

 

SUCCESSFUL POLICE investigations into recent high-profile crimes appear to have been overshadowed by their subsequent handling of the suspects.

 

Following the killing and dismemberment of a karaoke bar girl in Khon Kaen early this month, police took three female suspects into custody. The main talking point, however, was the selfies the suspects took with police and the national police chief’s apparent defence of them for surrendering voluntarily rather than being arrested.

 

The latest controversial incident was the arrest of Wattana Pummares, 61, who had been wanted for a series of bomb attacks in Bangkok. Wattana was allowed to use a microphone to answer reporters’ questions at a press conference on Wednesday, in the presence of the national police chief and other senior officers involved in his arrest.

 

The suspect condemned the 2014 coup and its leaders, saying his crimes were a show of frustration over the generals who staged the coup and took government positions. 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who staged the coup and had previously remained silent over Wattana’s remarks, said during an anti-drug event yesterday that suspects must not be presented and allowed to speak at press conferences. If they wanted to speak, they could do it in court, he said.

 

“Presenting suspects in a press conference must not be done. Photos [of them] are enough,” he said. 

 

“I understand that the media wishes to get information and news, but sometimes it has negative results,” he added, while |not referring to any particular press |conference.

 

Deputy permanent secretary for |justice Tawatchai Thaikiew said the |premier had recommended since last year against parading suspects in press conferences because it violates basic human rights.

 

He quoted Prayut as saying that if suspects did not commit the crime or if they had served a jail term and were released, they would not be able to live their lives in public again.

 

Meanwhile, Pol General Chakthip issued a ban on the presentation of criminal suspects at press conferences, saying they would no longer be allowed to talk to the press.

 

He also ordered that officers dealing with suspects detained in custody should not behave in any way that might suggest they are friendly with them. Chakthip said the order resulted from the police’s handling of three female suspects.

 

Such behaviour risks sending the wrong signals and could hamper police in their duties, Chaktip said, citing recent instances that negatively affected the image of police.

 

Police are now banned from taking photos or videos of themselves or each other with suspects other than during the collection of evidence. The orders apply to all ranks, and any officers violating the directive face administrative and disciplinary punishment.

 

Chakthip, who was present at Wattana’s press conference, was criticised for appearing to be very close to Wattana. Photos of Wattana whispering with Chakthip were published in the media along with his criticism of Prayut.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30318962

 

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-24

 

[Smiley Face]

Translation:

"Perp walks not allowed if they embarrass or question our esteemed leaders and officials.  All others are encouraged.  Carry on."

[Samui Bodoh]

Translation 2:

 

"Perps are banned if necessary, but not necessarily banned"

 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2017 by Samui Bodoh

[mtls2005]

Chakthip, who was present at Wattana’s press conference, was criticised for appearing to be very close to Wattana. Photos of Wattana whispering with Chakthip were published in the media along with his criticism of Prayut.

 

 

Just to be clear here, it was the bomber's criticism of Prayut, primarily for his part in murdering ~ 79 Thais (51 still "unaccounted for")in the in-famous 2010 "crack-down", which has set the PM off in a tizzy on this subject.

 

The fact that national police honcho chakthip appeared friendly with the bomber did cause some concern.

 

The goal is to both shame the accused, and make the police look good, but it often backfires, and makes the police look silly. 

[Get Real]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Deputy permanent secretary for |justice Tawatchai Thaikiew said the |premier had recommended since last year against parading suspects in press conferences because it violates basic human rights.

 

 

If done since last year it´s clearly time for Section44 as a result that clearly

delivers.

[darksidedog]

I have been to quite a lot of police press conferences. It is not common to find a case where the evidence backs up all the claims made by the police in them though. While stopping the press conferences is a good idea, the police should at the same time be reined in from adding "speculation" as fact when they make statements. Especially when such speculation is normally added to make people think the suspect is guilty and that the police work in making the arrest was heroic.

[yellowboat]

It is trial by media and it is wrong. 

[Trumpish]

A rare good thing from the RTP. It's always been a deeply unjust process anyway, even if the perpetrator is guilty. This is just a showcase for publicity hungry (and probably deeply corrupt) cops wanting their 15 minutes of fame. Vide the top cop who is attracted to press cameras as a fly to a cowpat. Mr Pai Nai, so-called because he is everywhere a press audience gathers and will go anywhere to get his face in the papers or on the TV.

 

Courts should decide innocence ore guilt, not the court of public opinion. Even Thai courts are better then nothing, if only just.

[mtls2005]

Courts should decide innocence ore guilt

 

Well, for those rare cases which go to "trial", decisions on guilt are made by a judge (or multiple judges).

 

 

 

 

[Trumpish]

1 minute ago, mtls2005 said:

Courts should decide innocence ore guilt

 

Well, for those rare cases which go to "trial", decisions on guilt are made by a judge (or multiple judges).

 

 

 

 

Indeed. Though the word 'rare' troubles me a bit.

 

Anyone not from Thailand who has seen the inside of a Thai court and seen what these clowns get up to must be deeply unimpressed.

[habanero]

Haven't we been done this road already? 

[andersonat]

I thought that the "Re-enactments of the Crimes" were also [supposed to have been] stopped  -  but I see that they're still continuing.

[Trumpish]

Just now, andersonat said:

I thought that the "Re-enactments of the Crimes" were also [supposed to have been] stopped  -  but I see that they're still continuing.

Correct. Even the RTP seem to take no notice of Prayuth. I see the RTP road-blocks for checking pororbor and driving licenses haven't stopped as he instructed, and most don't have a senior officer present as he also instructed. The guy's a clownshow and it seems that few people take any notice of him.

[phantomfiddler]

What I find really disturbing is that convicted criminals who have been sentenced to death for crimes like murder are in some cases actually given bail !!!

[madmitch]

23 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

It is trial by media and it is wrong. 

But is it as wrong as the infamous "trial by thai visa!"? 

[Trumpish]

10 minutes ago, andersonat said:

I thought that the "Re-enactments of the Crimes" were also [supposed to have been] stopped  -  but I see that they're still continuing.

 

That's my recollection as well.

[silent]

58 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I have been to quite a lot of police press conferences. It is not common to find a case where the evidence backs up all the claims made by the police in them though. While stopping the press conferences is a good idea, the police should at the same time be reined in from adding "speculation" as fact when they make statements. Especially when such speculation is normally added to make people think the suspect is guilty and that the police work in making the arrest was heroic.

Don't most police forces/ services have other people called detectives who discover corroborating evidence that support speculations? 

[darksidedog]

17 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

What I find really disturbing is that convicted criminals who have been sentenced to death for crimes like murder are in some cases actually given bail !!!

There are a few interesting things your comment brings up about the legal system here.

Firstly, and sadly, murder here is not considered that serious a crime, in comparison with some other offences. Take a look at the bail for murder at 500,000 Baht.

A mere couple of grams of Ya ice will be a million. One questionable credit card the same. If you have multiple dodgy credit cards or 20 grams of Ya ice or more, you will not get bail at all. Drugs and fraud are considered way more serious.

Secondly, the bail system while under appeal, is obviously different from at home. Many cases with  a guilty verdict at the court of first instance are overturned at Appeal or Supreme Court. This stems from often very junior judges at the first court, being unsure about a case and rather than err on the side of leniency, will give a guilty verdict and then let someone higher up and with more experience sort it out. The courts are aware of the turnover rate, so will allow bail for many cases albeit at a slightly higher rate than before the first verdict, maybe 20-50% extra.

It does though reinforce something a little old Thai lady told me one day outside Nong Plalai prison, "There are not guilty people in prison, there are poor people in there." Those with money always seem to get out.

Edited June 24, 2017 by darksidedog

[Lupatria]

If they stop publishing their trophy group photos (1 suspect with a dozen cops in the background) FB will be flooded with selfies of men in brown uniforms.

[darksidedog]

12 minutes ago, silent said:

Don't most police forces/ services have other people called detectives who discover corroborating evidence that support speculations? 

In Thailand?

The police here do not investigate. They take details of the alleged crime, make an arrest, and pass it off to the prosecutor to decide if there is a case.

You can have a thousand witnesses proving you were somewhere else, but the same process will still occur, and you will still be arrested and need to make bail.

The police do not see it as their job to check anything. It is up to the court to hear the evidence, and that is when you can bring in your alibi, not before.

This is why the legal system is so overburdened. Cases that with 2 hours police work could be thrown out as spurious clog up the courts.

And coming back to the speculation, it should be clear by now, the police statement of facts, is essentially little more than reading out the allegation, though they have always seemed incapable of not spicing it up a bit, and not mentioning anything the defendant has said by way of denial.

[wvavin]

Well, nobody is surprised because the police is making a fool of themselves for decades.

[williamgeorgeallen]

the cops need daily reminders when the rules are changed. last time the good general banned them from parading the suspects the cops only stopped for 2 days.

seems the cops who are typically reds used this occasion to make the army look bad.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

It is trial by media and it is wrong. 

What media? This is Thailand and they only write what they are told to write.

 

1 hour ago, andersonat said:

I thought that the "Re-enactments of the Crimes" were also [supposed to have been] stopped  -  but I see that they're still continuing.

Me too but as you say, the police are still on their own self-aggrandizement by media trip.

[electric]

Civil liberties aside, parading the suspects with their booty has always been an entertaining segment on the local telly news.

 

I get a bit of a giggle that some suspects try pretty hard to cover up their identity, whilst others don't give a rats.

 

Hope they still continue to show the booty though. Some very impressive drug hauls often on display.

 

 

[lvr181]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Chakthip, who was present at Wattana’s press conference, was criticised for appearing to be very close to Wattana. Photos of Wattana whispering with Chakthip were published in the media along with his criticism of Prayut.

 

 

Just to be clear here, it was the bomber's criticism of Prayut, primarily for his part in murdering ~ 79 Thais (51 still "unaccounted for")in the in-famous 2010 "crack-down", which has set the PM off in a tizzy on this subject.

 

The fact that national police honcho chakthip appeared friendly with the bomber did cause some concern.

 

The goal is to both shame the accused, and make the police look good, but it often backfires, and makes the police look silly. 

"... it often backfires, and makes the police look silly."  Or do you really mean 'sillier'? 

[Psimbo]

That should cut the Thaigeezer posts by half if it happens.

[electric]

No more press conferences, or photo ops !! How is this guy going to fill in 8 hours every day ?

 

[lvr181]

11 minutes ago, electric said:

No more press conferences, or photo ops !! How is this guy going to fill in 8 hours every day ?

 

"How is this guy going to fill in 8 hours every day ?"  Maybe he could consider solving crimes? Or is that idea too radical? 

[madusa]

5 hours ago, yellowboat said:

It is trial by media and it is wrong. 

You are right. Suspects are just suspects not yet prove to be the convicted criminal, after conviction you could parade them and ask them to re-enact but not before.

What happen if the suspects proved to be innocent? 

[Mad mick]

7 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

What I find really disturbing is that convicted criminals who have been sentenced to death for crimes like murder are in some cases actually given bail !!!

Can the jaunta just get there yellow submarines ask the Chinese to operate the sub and piss off " give thailand back to thais " not this nanny coup jaunta 

military idiots who cant fight in a war " to damn scared "only coups ! They are trators to thailand!  who murdered there own people for ! power , money and greed nothing else , cricky days after coup they bought expensive houses " thailand never ceases to amaze me .stand up and fight for your freedom they cant kill u all > 65 million of you guys get some back bone & take them on bomb there military bases fkm .talk the talk but cant walk the walk " coup jaunta they are not leaving or going anywhere until they have completly dismantled  thailand. Then your at year zero chinese or khun jean own thailand  "since  the great rama 5 let them in thais own stuff all " none of the wealth just slaves to them ! When they are  not in thailand ! they never say we are thai always  chinese/ thais " think about that ! Thats what they think of u thais " pol pot !  jaunta are to busy reinventing the wheel  .

Edited June 24, 2017 by Mad mick