Criminal Court ruling today in major human-trafficking case

[webfact]

Criminal Court ruling today in major human-trafficking case

By The Nation

 

Manas Kongpan (White hair)

 

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court on Wednesday will rule on a major human-trafficking case involving as many as 103 defendants, including a senior military officer, Manas Kongpan.

The ruling is due to be delivered at 8.30am.

 

The trial began in 2015 as suspected syndicates were accused of trafficking migrants, notably ethnic Rohingya, to Thailand and via the Kingdom to other destinations.

 

Thai and Myanmar citizens were arrested that year following the discovery of a mass grave in jungle shelters in the border district of Sadao, in Songkhla province, used by traffickers to hold the migrants.

 

Investigations indicated a number of security officials as well as Thai and Myanmar civilians had taken the migrants – originally from Bangladesh and western Myanmar – to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

 

The case attracted international attention to the regional migrant crisis across the Indian Ocean, and countries were criticised for ignoring the problem.

 

Thailand was then downgraded to the lowest level – Tier 3 – in the US State Department’s “Trafficking in Persons” (TIP) report in both 2014 and 2015.

 

The Thai government has since taken a number of measures, including amendment of its trafficking law and the creation of a special division in the Criminal Court to handle human-trafficking cases in particular.

 

Wednesday’s ruling is the first such case for the new division.

 

Thailand, meanwhile, remains on the Watch List in Washington’s annual TIP report.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30321144

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-19

[clockman]

This had been going on for at least 20 years! Poor catch!

[webfact]

Thai judge hands down verdicts in major trafficking trial

By Panu Wongcha-um and Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A judge began handing down verdicts in Thailand's biggest human trafficking trial on Wednesday before dozens of defendants, including a Thai army general, accused of smuggling and trafficking migrants on the Thai-Malaysia border.

 

The legal process in handing down verdicts is lengthy in Thailand and may take hours before the judge reveals the exact details of the verdicts to a packed Bangkok court.

 

The trafficking trial involves 103 defendants ranging from Myanmar nationals to Thai police officers and local politicians.

 

The trial began in 2015 after a Thai crackdown on trafficking gangs following the gruesome discovery of dozens of shallow graves near the Thai-Malaysia border which authorities said was part of a jungle camp where traffickers held migrants as hostages until relatives were able to pay for their release.

 

Many never made it out. Some of those who died are thought to have been Rohingya – a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar's troubled Rakhine State – although Thailand has yet to release a full report on the graves and the results of post-mortem forensic testing.

 

The trial has been marred by allegations of intimidation against witnesses, interpreters and police investigators.

Rights groups say trafficking networks were largely left intact by the 2015 crackdown and trial.

 

"We believe that the crackdown is only a disruption of a trafficking network but that network is still very much well in place," Amy Smith, an executive director of rights group Fortify Rights, told Reuters.

 

"There needs to be more prosecution against traffickers as well as more work on rehabilitation of trafficking victims," Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters.

 

Thailand's government denies that trafficking syndicates are still flourishing and has said it has largely eliminated human trafficking in the country.

 

Journalists were not allowed in the court room on Wednesday but proceedings were relayed on television screens provided by the court.

 

Thailand has historically been a source, destination and transit country for men, women and children who are often smuggled and trafficked from poorer, neighboring countries including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to work in Thailand or further afield in Malaysia, often as laborers and sex workers.

 

Last month the U.S. State Department left Thailand on a Tier 2 Watchlist, just above the lowest ranking of Tier 3, in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report because it did not do enough to tackle human smuggling and trafficking.

 

(Additional reporting by Juarawee Kittisilpa, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-19

[CantSpell]

Manas might go down in History as the first Thai (military) scapegoat...

 

Shame the investigator that had to escape to Australia has not made any statement or broken that crab basket open.

 

Edited July 19, 2017 by CantSpell

[webfact]

Thai judge hands down 21 guilty verdicts in major trafficking trial

By Panu Wongcha-um, Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

FILE PHOTO: Lieutenant General Manas Kongpan (C), a suspected human trafficker, is escorted by officers as he arrives at the criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand, November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A judge handing down verdicts in Thailand's biggest human trafficking trial on Wednesday had announced 21 guilty verdicts by mid-morning from 103 defendants, with judgements expected to last late into the day.

 

Some of those found guilty of trafficking were also convicted for taking part in organised transnational crime, forcible detention leading to death, and of rape.

 

The legal process in handing down verdicts is lengthy in Thailand and it may take hours before the judge reveals the exact sentences for those convicted to a packed Bangkok court.

 

The defendants, which include a Thai army general, police officers, local politicians and Myanmar nationals, are accused of smuggling and trafficking migrants on the Thai-Malaysia border.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, head of the ruling junta, asked Thais not to put the blame for trafficking on military figures, a reference to the army general on trial.

 

"There are many people in this human trafficking network," Prayuth told reporters on Wednesday. "Don't group all soldiers in the country as one."

 

The trial began in 2015 after a Thai crackdown on trafficking gangs following the gruesome discovery of dozens of shallow graves near the Thai-Malaysia border which authorities said was part of a jungle camp where traffickers held migrants as hostages until relatives were able to pay for their release.

 

Many never made it out. Some of those who died are thought to have been Rohingya – a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar's troubled Rakhine State – although Thailand has yet to release a full report on the graves and the results of post-mortem forensic testing.

 

The trial has been marred by allegations of intimidation against witnesses, interpreters and police investigators.

 

Rights groups say trafficking networks were largely left intact by the 2015 crackdown and trial.

 

"We believe that the crackdown is only a disruption of a trafficking network but that network is still very much well in place," Amy Smith, an executive director of rights group Fortify Rights, told Reuters.

 

FUTURE DETERRENT

 

Of the 22 verdicts read out during the court's morning session, only one person was found not guilty.

 

Sunai Phasuk, senior Thai researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the heaviest sentence for those convicted of trafficking could be the death sentence.

 

"The fact that there are very senior officials charged with this crime will help deter criminals in trafficking networks in the future," Sunai, who observed the court proceedings, told Reuters.

 

Thailand's government denies that trafficking syndicates are still flourishing and has said it has largely eliminated human trafficking in the country.

 

Journalists were not allowed in the court room on Wednesday but proceedings were relayed on television screens provided by the court.

 

Thailand has historically been a source, destination and transit country for men, women and children who are often smuggled and trafficked from poorer, neighbouring countries including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to work in Thailand or further afield in Malaysia, often as labourers and sex workers.

 

Last month the U.S. State Department left Thailand on a Tier 2 Watchlist, just above the lowest ranking of Tier 3, in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report because it did not do enough to tackle human smuggling and trafficking.

 

(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-19

[YetAnother]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

and countries were criticised for ignoring the problem.

why in the world would they address this ?! high-ups make money from this; no reward for whistleblowers, quite the opposite;all downside

[YetAnother]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's government denies that trafficking syndicates are still flourishing and has said it has largely eliminated human trafficking in the country.

well there you go; believe everything they tell you

[candide]

4 hours ago, CantSpell said:

Manas might go down in History as the first Thai (military) scapegoat...

 

Shame the investigator that had to escape to Australia has not made any statement or broken that crab basket open.

 

Manas was stupid enough to have his commission paid by bank transfer by the traffickers, so it would have been very difficult to cover up his participation.

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, CantSpell said:

Manas might go down in History as the first Thai (military) scapegoat...

 

Shame the investigator that had to escape to Australia has not made any statement or broken that crab basket open.

 

Manas looks to be the fall guy in this. 

 

Yahoo spoke about the investigator today.   Hope he publishes a book one day.  He is probably scared out of his mind.

[colinneil]

Scum being sentenced range from army general, politicians, police.

Hells teeth if the so-called protectors of the public are involved in human trafficking/muder/rape and extortion.

Then the countries <deleted!>.

[jippytum]

Human trafficking is a heinous crime sometimes the victims are given a life sentence of misery .I hope the instigators receive a similar punishment and should be made to pay victims  financial retribution from the profits they earned from captive slave labor.

[Moti24]

"Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, head of the ruling junta, asked Thais not to put the blame for trafficking on military figures, a reference to the army general on trial."

 

"There are many people in this human trafficking network," Prayuth told reporters on Wednesday. "Don't group all soldiers in the country as one."

 

If he practiced what he preached, a lot of foreigners would be a lot happier!

[eggers]

More countries, particularly those in EU, need to take a strong action against people smugglers now flooding EU with mostly "economic migrants", only small number actually refugees..... EU needs to smarten up, it's a bureaucratic Behemoth, main reason for Brexit!!  

[mark01]

Just the tip of a very big, profitable, and well connected high-ranking iceberg.

[hobz]

Thailand's government denies that trafficking syndicates are still flourishing and has said it has largely eliminated human trafficking in the country.

 

5555555 and there is no mafia on koh tao im sure 55555

 

 

anyway, im not going to say "good job" unless they all go to jail and stay in jail. 

 

is it possible that the army general and other higher ups will be "out on bail" soon or something like that?

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

4 hours ago, candide said:

Manas was stupid enough to have his commission paid by bank transfer by the traffickers, so it would have been very difficult to cover up his participation.

Just karma coming back ? It is said that once there was a commanding officer those men chased a group of terrorists into a mosque. According to them the terrorists were armed. The troops entered the mosque and killed just about everyone inside. Those who lived to tell the tale said the terrorists was not terrorist just muslims scared of the troops and that they were unarmed. Worse is that the commander was praised for his action and promoted. 

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

very senior officials charged with this crime

In addition to Army three-star Gen. Manus should be Royal Thai Navy officer Cmd. Kampanart Sangthongchin along with mid-level army officers Col. Nattasit Maksuwan, Cpt. Visoot Boonnag and Cpt. Santhat Petchnoi. All four army officers worked for the Internal Operation Security Command (ISOC), a government counter-insurgency agency that still operates in Southern Thailand

 

Manus was called by the army a kingpin in human trafficking. Yet it appears that there were no further arrests following his arrest in August 2015. That fact that even five military officers were arrested and likely convicted can only be in response to US pressure due to its Tier Report. But I don't expect more.

[spidermike007]

No doubt Manas deserves the guilty verdict. He was using private islands in the Andaman to train ship these slaves. A modern day slave trader. How many others in power were involved. And how many of those others are still in power? Perhaps hundreds of other current army officers, high ranking police officers, and government officials. This is an enormous industry. People are making millions on the misery of others. This is about as heinous a crime, as one can commit. Thailand has very, very dirty hands, with regard to this. I sincerely hope they are making a real effort in battling this problem that has been going on for decades, more than likely. 

 

One has to assume he was the fall guy. For Little P. to ask the Thai people not to consider others soldiers to be guilty or complicit is condescending, insulting, and it betrays a tremendous presumption that people will believe whatever he says, which is definitely not the case. It is tantamount to saying the problem has been completely resolved. Most of us seriously doubt that.

[wvavin]

Manap is making history.

[Chip Allen]

I would like to think that this actually MEANS something, in terms of "zero-tolerance" of human slavery and coercion....THEN.....I remember where I am. This is most likely another dog and pony show to placate the social justice warriors in the USA. Sad....but this is reality.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Chip Allen said:

I would like to think that this actually MEANS something, in terms of "zero-tolerance" of human slavery and coercion....THEN.....I remember where I am. This is most likely another dog and pony show to placate the social justice warriors in the USA. Sad....but this is reality.

 

Has anybody noted what punishments have been given to those announced as guilty, or is that another day?

[heybruce]

6 hours ago, candide said:

Manas was stupid enough to have his commission paid by bank transfer by the traffickers, so it would have been very difficult to cover up his participation.

He probably thought no one would ever investigate or take action against a high ranking general.  After all, Prayut's brother, General Preecha Chan-ocha, was caught with Third Army funds in his personal bank account and nothing was ever done about it.  http://thediplomat.com/2014/10/thai-junta-beset-by-corruption-scandals/  

[CharlieH]

A post in ALL CAPS has been removed.

 

Please remember to turn the CAPS off.

 

Thank you.

[diehard60]

this unfortunately is just the tip of the iceberg. there are a lot more then they are talking about. it's just like you catch one drug smuggler and ten gut by.

[Srikcir]

10 hours ago, heybruce said:

He probably thought no one would ever investigate or take action against a high ranking general. 

Especially since at the time of his arrest, Gen. Manus was an aide to Prayut's NCPO.

How could Prayut be expected to know anything "bad" about his staff members?

 

 

[Italian guy]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

the heaviest sentence for those convicted of trafficking could be the death sentence

It seems the lightest to me...

 

 

"Thailand's government denies that trafficking syndicates are still flourishing and has said it has largely eliminated human trafficking in the country."

 

Yes, sure... 

[drgoon]

Who was the General in charge when all this  was going on....  Prayut 

[daphnia88]

The guy looks like my late grandfather.... To think that he's capable of doing that...

[sandemara]

Considering the number of people in the group actually convicted of offences, their varying levels of social and financial status, the amounts of money revealed in the criminal activities (from murder, rape, kidnapping, extortion and a range of less serious crimes) outlined in evidence, the breadth of areas and locations in which illicit activites occurred and the long periods over which these crimes took place, does any reasonable person believe those on trial are the only people involve?.

Many other scumbags would have benefited from these now-revealed crimes,providing support and encouragement (for a price) and benefited from the activities.

Many times greater numbers (family members, friends and associates involved in linked activities (drug networks, body dumpers, providers of land for death camps, food deliveries, general transport needs and other supplies etc)) but chose to keep quiet and took no action to deter them or relieve the suffering of many thousands swallowed in the forests. A similar number in the know might have been too afraid of revenge if they'd spoken out.

Those convicted and their immediate families should be subject to loss of any riches accumulated that cannot be explained by proven legal means, or clean profits derived from what bwas originally blood money. Such funds should be consolidated into sources for compensation to relatives of victims.

It's beyond laughable that authorities expect the citizenry to believe fanciful notions about having stopped the disease and other side effects of the corruption necessary for these depravities to have continued in a hidden vacuum for so long. 

Many more criminal scum hiding behind fake respectability should also be hung out to dry.

[hobz]

19 hours ago, Chip Allen said:

I would like to think that this actually MEANS something, in terms of "zero-tolerance" of human slavery and coercion....THEN.....I remember where I am. This is most likely another dog and pony show to placate the social justice warriors in the USA. Sad....but this is reality.

Definitely a dog and pony show, why else would they say that they have now largely eliminated human trafficking.