Reporter charged investigating former chief’s assets

[rooster59]

Reporter charged investigating former chief’s assets

By The Nation
 

 
Isra news agency on Friday released a brief statement calling for public donations to help support its reporter, who has fresh charges of trespassing on private property allegedly involved in former police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan’s asset examination.
 
Isra said the agency is just a small organisation run by Isra Institute and the Thai Press Development Foundation. Its work focuses on exposing corruption, especially among those in power, for the benefit of the public. However, it is concerned that the fresh charge against its reporter may take time and be costly. It is asking for donations to help fund the case.
 
The young reporter, Nattaporn Veeranant, was charged with trespassing at an apartment building in Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek area after being assigned by his editors to investigate the former police chief’s assets.
 
Prasong Lertratanawisute, director of the Isra Institute, had said Nattaporn had met with the apartment’s caretaker and asked for an interview and so was baffled why his reporter had been charged with entering the building without permission. 
 
However, he said it was not clear if the charge represented an attempt to curb press freedom.
 
The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) also issued a statement demanding an end to infringements on press freedoms. The association said Nattaporn’s work followed journalistic standards and the police charge against him was deemed intimidation.
 
The association added that police should not attempt to curb media efforts to investigate people in power. The TJA demanded that police drop the charge, which it viewed as being weak, unjust and intended to serve people in power. 
 
Last Wednesday, Patcharawat was acquitted in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, along with former premiers Somchai Wongsawat and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and former Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Suchart Muenkaew in regards to a police crackdown on yellow-shirt protesters in October 2008 that left two people dead.
 
The National Anti-Corruption Commission had previously indicated it was investigating other matters concerning Patcharawat, including alleged “unusual wealth”.
 
Those interested in providing support to the case can make a money transfer at the Siam Commercial Bank, Sri Yan, 073-222026-9.
 
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30323560

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-12

[Araiwah]

Uh-oh! Someone has something to hide......

[Eric Loh]

So what! His surname quarantee immunity. 

[Mad mick]

10 hours ago, Araiwah said:

Uh-oh! Someone has something to hide......

amazing thailand

[colinneil]

Pathetic attempt to stop reporters getting to the truth about corruption, nothing else.

[hgma]

after the Boss is free of charge we might get a same situation.

[Valentine]

Don't shoot the messenger does not seem to apply here.

[Stargeezr]

Getting dangerous to be a reporter in Thailand, soon will need extra danger pay for trying to

expose corruption, of the supposed uncorruptable  police.

Geezer

[Rancid]

Wow, reporters actually try to get to the truth here? Sounds inherently dangerous. In the west investigative reporter now means someone that reprints a government handout or a major advertisers opinion, stress free life.

[spidermike007]

Perhaps a minor attempt to turn press freedom, but more likely an attempt to curb gathering information on the activities of gangsters, in positions of authority. The most dangerous kind. 

[tomacht8]

The young reporter, Nattaporn Veeranant, was charged with trespassing at an apartment building in Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek.

So how much is the charge then for trespassing an apartment building?
500 Baht?
Thailand needs more investigative reporters to bring light into this corruption jungle.

Edited August 13, 2017 by tomacht8

[Nowisee]

22 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Perhaps a minor attempt to turn press freedom, but more likely an attempt to curb gathering information on the activities of gangsters, in positions of authority. The most dangerous kind. 

Just throwing this out there, but I can imagine the gangsters in position of authority (GiPoA) have the upper hand when it comes to pressing the quiet button on someone snooping into their "alleged" misappropriations.  
This is whats keeping the GiPoA running the way they do and want.  Its what keep the country and many of the people quiet, i.e. powerless.  

Easy to squash the occasional bug, but if this country would go after these GiPoA like an infestation, they couldn't fight back...er, be as effective.  Does the average somchai even know what's happening behind the curtain?  Do they care?   
But, as many will tell me, this isn't my country, stop trying to change it, if I don't like it go back where I came from and they are right and it's why I don't care what happens here, only like to ponder and comment.  Besides, there's too many incredibly stupid things happen in and with my own country. 
Oh, and props to the reporter for having some juevos.

[spidermike007]

20 minutes ago, Nowisee said:

Just throwing this out there, but I can imagine the gangsters in position of authority (GiPoA) have the upper hand when it comes to pressing the quiet button on someone snooping into their "alleged" misappropriations.  
This is whats keeping the GiPoA running the way they do and want.  Its what keep the country and many of the people quiet, i.e. powerless.  

Easy to squash the occasional bug, but if this country would go after these GiPoA like an infestation, they couldn't fight back...er, be as effective.  Does the average somchai even know what's happening behind the curtain?  Do they care?   
But, as many will tell me, this isn't my country, stop trying to change it, if I don't like it go back where I came from and they are right and it's why I don't care what happens here, only like to ponder and comment.  Besides, there's too many incredibly stupid things happen in and with my own country. 
Oh, and props to the reporter for having some juevos.

 

Agree with all you said. The reporter Nattaporn Veeranant is a Thai hero. A real example for others, as to what courage under fire looks like. There are some here, that just refuse to live inside this tiny box of convention, and just rise up to the occasion, not matter how narrow their environment is, and no matter how restrictive the tiny, feckless, non-visionary, small hearted, malcontent leaders attempt to make journalism in this nation. In their attempt to censor, they are showing their true colors, and the vast amount of information and misdeeds that they are desperately attempting to hide. Their fear and panic is palpable. 

 

But I will add:

Your complaints are totally valid. Granted, harping endlessly becomes a bit old. But calling things out, the way you see it is the very nature of an open society. Even though we do not live in a society that even resembles an open society, perhaps we can have a facsimile of one, via forums such as this one? 

 

Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some lame guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues. Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Please. 

Edited August 13, 2017 by spidermike007

[WhizBang]

However, he said it was not clear if the charge represented an attempt to curb press freedom.

 

 

Not clear?  Blimey, what does it take to make things crystal clear? 

[barrywhite]

4 minutes ago, WhizBang said:

However, he said it was not clear if the charge represented an attempt to curb press freedom.

 

 

Not clear?  Blimey, what does it take to make things crystal clear? 

9mm

[Bluespunk]

On 12/08/2017 at 11:12 AM, rooster59 said:

Prasong Lertratanawisute, director of the Isra Institute, had said Nattaporn had met with the apartment’s caretaker and asked for an interview and so was baffled why his reporter had been charged with entering the building without permission. 

That's not the original claim. Previously they said he "found" an open door.  

 

No doubt the guy under investigation for corruption is using the trespassing as an excuse to shut the press up. 

 

However, if the reporter did trespass, just admit it and move on.

 

On the other hand, the whole story is bring the corruption charges into the spotlight. 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2017 by Bluespunk