webfact Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 High-profile fall from grace into a dark world By THE NATION BANGKOK: -- THEY were once highly-successful figures in the community, but now they are scorned human traffickers. Before Thailand’s biggest human-trafficking scandal broke in 2015, Manas Kongpan was a respectable lieutenant general, Suwan Saengthong a major seafood trader in Ranong province, Pajjuban Angchotephan a high-flying businessman from Lipe Island, and Banjong Pongphon the mayor of the Padang Besar Municipality. Their role in the trafficking of migrants has destroyed their reputations and their lives. Following the guilty verdict, all four have received widespread condemnation and lengthy jail terms. Had Manas not been involved in human trafficking, he could have still enjoyed a remarkable military career. He graduated from the prestigious Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS), studying alongside General Chalermchai Sittisart, the current Army chief, and General Thawip Netniyom, the current secretary-general of the National Security Council. After Manas joined the Army, he steadily climbed the career ladder getting regular promotions. But in 2010, he was posted to Ranong province where he met Suwan – who ran a legitimate seafood trade in the open, but was involved in human trafficking behind the scenes. There are no details about how exactly the two are connected, but evidence showed that Suwan transferred at least Bt14 million to Manas’s bank accounts. The transfer records became evidence to implicate Manas in human trafficking that spanned several southern provinces. The victims were mostly Rohingya people from Myanmar and Bangladesh. Even though Manas was a high-ranking specialist in the Army at the time of his arrest in 2015, he was not granted bail. Pajjuban was also once so influential in his hometown that he was dubbed the “Godfather of Koh Lipe”. His Angchotephan family was often credited with developing Koh Lipe – now a famous tourist island in Satun province. Pajjuban owned a number of businesses, from fisheries to hotels. The court found that Pajjuban had used his connections not just for legitimate businesses but also illegal for human trafficking. Banjong was at the helm of the Padang Besar Municipality for several years until the human-trafficking scandal exposed his dark side. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30321233 -- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
namoi Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 On the ABC News here in Australia this morning, so it's out there at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oziex1 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 What is it about these guys that caused them to take the fall. Has this evil business ceased? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave67 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/513318/Opinion/Editorial/Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinneil Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Their role in trafficking migrants has destroyed their lives and reputations, boo-hoo so what. Whar about the thousands of lives destroyed because of these bar stewards involvement in human trafficking???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenchair Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 They are just the tip of the iceberg. I am surprised they have been allowed to live ,with the knowledge they must have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samui Bodoh Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 5 minutes ago, greenchair said: They are just the tip of the iceberg. I am surprised they have been allowed to live ,with the knowledge they must have. The tip of the iceberg indeed! An operation such as this, which went on for several years, could not have occurred without widespread knowledge and assistance from many, many people. I hope more people will face justice, but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracker1 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Im sure there are a lot more then 4 involved maybe all the others were from Myanmar ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisY1 Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 I doubt there has been a great impact on the trade....there's still slaves being moved and still large amounts of money to be made. Notice that no-one from the RTN has been implicated.....and yet witnessed by immigrants as running island slave camps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 It's also on the BBC ... "Manas Kongpan is among more than 60 people convicted in Bangkok of trafficking Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims, a minority fleeing Myanmar. Another top former official was sentenced to 75 years in prison. More than 100 defendants were on trial." and " Most of those indicted are from Thailand but several citizens of Myanmar (also called Burma) and Bangladesh are also being held. " So many of the other people involved have also been caught & punished, this is surprisingly fast for the Thai justice-system, although I suppose there will be appeals to come ? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40652012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midas Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 " Pajjuban owned a number of businesses, from fisheries to hotels. " You would think that would be enough for anyone's lifestyle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Money as God would eat up whatever humanity left in a person... Happens across the board, even to senior monks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandalf12 Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Also on the BBC and Al Jazeera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worgeordie Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 The greed for money,that's what it boils down to,how anyone could engage in such a despicable trade in human life,is beyond belief,I hope they stay in prison for their full terms,and suffer just as much as the lives they traded in. but been rich and influential,I doubt it. regards worgeordie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Loh Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 2 hours ago, greenchair said: They are just the tip of the iceberg. I am surprised they have been allowed to live ,with the knowledge they must have. The chief investigator Praween was smart to seek asylum in Australia. If he is allowed back, that tip may result in an avalanche of more high ranking officers implicated. He know too well that it's not worth his life to come back and testify. Those high ranking officers will be safe for now as Manas took one for the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 4 hours ago, webfact said: now they are scorned human traffickers. we, the few, scorn them; i bet anything they think they did nothing 'wrong' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwynt Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 1 hour ago, midas said: " Pajjuban owned a number of businesses, from fisheries to hotels. " You would think that would be enough for anyone's lifestyle Pure greed when enough is never enough ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midas Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 18 minutes ago, gwynt said: Pure greed when enough is never enough ? reminds me of this Irishman's colourful description of greed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Comes down to one word at the end.. GREED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retarius Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Wot, no appeal? No bail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonewolf99 Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Why is it not possible for Praween to testify via a live TV link, and give him the chance to nail the culprits to the wall. Has Australia not got a witness protection program ? In the name of true humanity 1st world countries should give people like him the chance to have his say safely. Sitting back and letting the Thai system carry on with its cover ups and botched investigations just compounds the crime..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redline Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Make them fishing boat slaves until they die~4 hours sleep, and a little rice and water each day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Triangle Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 If greed was their motivation for this vile trade then each and every person convicted in this trial should have all their assets confiscated by the state and the proceeds used to fund further anti trafficking measures, I don't care if their families are tossed out onto the street homeless and destitute, it serves them bloody right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryasimight Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 (edited) After reading this thread and the linked Nation article I still don't see any prison sentences mentioned. Have I missed something? Edit...the BBC link mentions 75 years...it must be true Edited July 20, 2017 by tryasimight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harada Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 On 20 July 2017 at 8:15 AM, Oziex1 said: What is it about these guys that caused them to take the fall. Has this evil business ceased? These scapegoats either belonged to the wrong faction or wore the wrong coloured shirts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gk10002000 Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 22 hours ago, midas said: " Pajjuban owned a number of businesses, from fisheries to hotels. " You would think that would be enough for anyone's lifestyle Yeah, could be a comfortable lifestyle, but then they start some drugs or some very expensive gambling trips over to Cambodia. I bet if somebody looked you would see things like that being involved. And of course they probably bought some properties, some crazily marked up expensive cars, etc. It is not hard to spend a few million baht routinely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 On 7/20/2017 at 4:54 AM, webfact said: Had Manas not been involved in human trafficking, he could have still enjoyed a remarkable military career. This should have read: "Manas enjoyed a remarkable military career despite his (ahem) undetected role in human trafficking." His rank during his direct involvement as a "kingpin" in human trafficking was colonel. When he was arrested six years later he was a three-star army general and aide to Prayut's NCPO. What is really remarkable is that he apparently escaped detection for his direct involvement in human trafficking while part of the Internal Security Operations Center (ISOC) whose mission is fighting the Muslim insurgency in the South and used military resources to support his human trafficking operation. Also remarkable by the lack of any disclosure was any military court trial that could have busted the general's rank and left him without a military pension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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