So What Else is New

[Undaunted]

Chon Buri police chief moved pending B140m extortion probe

Eight officers being investigated for colluding with civilians to shake down online gambling suspects

by Wassayos Ngamkham and Online Reporters

June 17, 2023

The Chon Buri provincial police chief is among eight senior officers who have been moved to inactive posts for allegedly colluding with civilians to extort 140 million baht from online gambling suspects.

National police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas on Saturday ordered the transfer of the eight officers to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) operations command centre, said Pol Lt Gen Archayon Kraithong, the RTP spokesman.

The affected officers are Pol Maj Gen Kamphon Leelaprapaporn, 54, chief of Chon Buri police; Pol Lt Col Narongrit Wasuphan, deputy Chon Buri chief; Pol Lt Col Sathian Ratchapongthai, deputy superintendent at Nong Kham station in Chon Buri; Pol Maj Pornthep Phetnuan, investigation chief at Wang Chan station in Rayong; Pol Col Damrong Onta, superintendent at the Cyber Investigation Bureau (CCIB); Pol Maj Nakhonrat Nonseelad, Pol Lt Col Pathomphong Meeyu and Pol Capt Somboon Butdalert.

Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national chief, has been named to head a special investigative panel that will look into the case, said Pol Lt Gen Archayon.

The panel will include investigators from Provincial Police Regions 1 and 2, who will be tasked with gathering evidence. Any officers found guilty would face immediate and serious disciplinary action because the case has badly tarnished the image of police, said Pol Lt Gen Archayon.

Authorities are also investigating two civilians — Phisit “Ton” Nakhisornpanee and Veera “Boy” Nasap — believed to be linked to the eight officers. They are suspected of having been tasked with dealing with gambling suspects.

Pol Gen Surachate said on Saturday that he would seek court approval to arrest the eight officers and two civilians on Sunday. If the court approves the request, the accused would be asked to report to the Royal Thai Police Sports Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

He said investigators would initially press charges of violating Section 157 of the Criminal Code for malfeasance by public officials, and Section 149 for demanding or receiving bribes.

Pol Maj Gen Kamphon on Saturday acknowledged that a complaint had been filed against him by online gambling operators. He said he would explain the facts of the case in a report to the national police chief.

The investigation has made some progress. The financial records of the officers and six people suspected of involvement in online gambling operations are being examined for possible links, said the spokesman.

The transfers came after six people on Thursday filed a complaint with the Khu Khot police station in Pathum Thani, accusing Pol Maj Gen Kamphon and his team of trying to extort 140 million baht from them.

According to the complainants, a team of Chon Buri police officers with warrants arrested them during raids on three locations in Bangkok and Nonthaburi at around 1pm on May 23.

Some complainants were subsequently taken to the Khannayao police station in Bangkok before being taken to Chon Buri to meet Pol Maj Gen Kamphon at his office.

In accounts that have circulated widely on social media, the Chon Buri chief was quoted as saying to one of the suspects: “There is a way out, Phae. How much do you love the police commander? Write it down (the sum of money).”

After that conversation, Mr Phisit arrived to continue the negotiations, according to Thai media reports. The suspect reportedly offered 20 million baht but Mr Phisit asked for 120 million. They eventually settled on 65 million baht. Mr Veera then entered the room and told the suspect to pay Mr Phisit and he would handle everything to clear up the case.

The arresting team then took the suspect from the Chon Buri headquarters to the Bang Lamung police station at around 11 pm on May 23. The two civilians asked the suspect to contact friends to bring 65 million baht, and the suspect was detained overnight at the station.

The following day, the suspect borrowed money from friends and relatives. The money was reportedly given to Mr Veera and Mr Phisit at two different locations — behind a housing estate in Khu Khut in Pathum Thani and behind a temple in Mae Suai district of Chiang Rai.

After the money was handed over, the arresting team took the suspect to Saensuk police station in Chon Buri, where Pol Maj Gen Kamphon was waiting. The suspect was later released.

Mr Phisit and Mr Veera subsequently got in touch with another suspect who had fled abroad and demanded 30 million baht. The pair also asked to be partners in his online gambling websites and continued to demand more money from him and his other partners.

Eventually the suspects became fed up with the shakedown attempts and decided to file their complaint against the police officers and the two civilians.

A police source said Pol Gen Surachate would examine security camera recordings from the office of the Chon Buri chief as well as premises that police raided and where extortion attempts allegedly took place.

The source said one of the eight transferred officers had already reported to his immediate commander, Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhonbancha, the CCIB commissioner. The seven others reportedly planned to report to the RTP on Saturday.

The Chon Buri police chief not long ago received an award from the national police chief. Acknowledging a photo that was circulated online, Pol Gen Archayont said it was taken at an event held to recognise outstanding police units across the country, not given to individual officers. In Chon Buri, the award was given on Feb 18 to all police for traffic management and road accident reduction during the New Year holiday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... tion-probe

[Gaybutton]

Just to be clear, these are NOT Pattaya police. They are Chonburi police.

Do stories like this come as a major shock to anybody?
__________________________________________________________________

Big Joke Takes Over Chonburi Top Police Extortion Case, More Arrests Coming

By Goongnang Suksawat

17 June, 2023

Summons and arrest warrants will be issued for people who were allegedly involved in the Chonburi case of high-ranking law enforcement officers accused of extorting 140 Million Baht from illegal online gambling website operators.

Our previous stories:

Six unidentified victims have filed a reported to the Kukot Police in Pathum Thani. They told police that the Chonburi Provincial Police Commander Major General Kamphon Leelaprapaporn and about ten other officers, most high-ranking, allegedly extorted 140 million baht from them.

The Chonburi Provincial Police Commander will be transferred to an inactive post while an investigation continues after he was accused of allegedly extorting 140 million baht from victims involved in illegal online gambling websites.

Now for the update:

Deputy National Police Chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn who was appointed the head of the investigation team on this case told the Thai press about the most recent developments via a phone interview on Saturday afternoon (June 17th).

“We are now gathering evidence to request arrest warrants and summons from the Thai Courts for more than ten suspects by tomorrow, Sunday (June 18th). They are being accused of being government officers but conducting illegal behavior and being involved in extorting. However the complete names of these suspects cannot be revealed at the moment pending investigation due to concerns around potential flight risks.”, Big Joke added.

The case has caused significant discussion on Thai social media and comparisons to a similar case in February of this year when Pattaya law enforcement officers admitted to being involved in extorting tourists for money after the tourists were caught vaping, which is illegal in Thailand.

A replacement for the Chonburi commander has yet to be officially announced as of press time but is expected soon.

https://tpnnational.com/2023/06/17/upda ... ts-coming/

[Dodger]

Do stories like this come as a major shock to anybody?

Not at all...and especially now seeing as Pita's coalition government has already announced that ridding Thailand of "Corruption" would be a major priority leading into year one.

Time to clean house before the new landlord moves in.

Legalizing "Prostitution" would be another enormous win for Move Forward - considering how much this industry contributes to Thailand's economy. I imagine the corrupt network that currently supports and profits from this industry is every bit as large (and deep) as the corrupt network that supports illegal gambling.

By legalizing prostitution Pita would accomplish 3 of his stated objectives: 1) improve the economy, 2) dismantle corruption, and 3) reduce the number of generals. There's no down-side.

[Gaybutton]

There's no down-side.

To me if there is a down side it would be the sheer enormity of corruption we've seen over the years, all too often directly involving people in powerful positions, and they're the ones whose job it is to prevent and prosecute that same corruption.

It's not going away just because the incoming administration wants it so. I only hope none of the people within the new administration are themselves involved in it or won't later be tempted if they think they can get away with it. With the number of people caught I can't help but wonder how many are still making a fortune, still haven't been caught, and are still deeply involved.

I have no idea what actually can be done, but I do believe it is going to take a whole new, innovative approach if there is any hope of even putting a significant dent in it. I only hope I am underestimating what the incoming administration can and will do.

[Dodger]

It's not going away just because the incoming administration wants it so.

Agree.

If you look at the countries that have made improvements in reducing corruption (there are many) they always started by strengthening the regime to prevent corruption - supported by new agencies within the new regime whose only tasks are to combat corruption and bring the actors to justice. I know this seems like an unsurmountable task in Thailand (put mildly) but at least the Move Forward coalition seems to have the right talent and mindset to make this happen.

I remember when South Korea was one of the most corrupt countries in all of Asia - and now it's being compared to Singapore for having such a low level of corruption.

Always the optimist.

[Jun]

If you look at the countries that have made improvements in reducing corruption (there are many) they always started by strengthening the regime to prevent corruption - supported by new agencies within the new regime whose only tasks are to combat corruption and bring the actors to justice.

Having the police investigate their own corruption is an obvious problem. Clearly an independent agency is needed, one with the means to arrest and prosecute police.

Some stiff punishments are also needed. Start with a minimum of 5 years in jail for accepting even a small bribe, rising to 20 or more years for major corruption. Then have double sentences for any corruption after a cut off date, set when the new government enters office.

[Gaybutton]

Some stiff punishments are also needed.

Add the word "very" to that - Some very stiff punishments are also needed.

I wonder how much of this corruption actually gets punished at all or gets punished beyond a slap on the wrist. I am thinking of that terrible fire at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip nearly a year ago. It is well known that upper echelon authorities looked the other way at safety requirements and that fire was the result. The last I heard was some of the higher ups were transferred to inactive positions. I have heard nothing about any punishment beyond that. Even the owner of the pub, who promised to cover the expenses for the people who were injured, suffered severe burns, had their lives ruined, and died - has anyone heard anything about that owner paying out a single baht? I haven't.

And then there are the scammers. Nearly every week there is news about the latest scam and how much money people who fell for it lost. As soon as one scam is shut down, they always seem to come up with another scam.

We'll see what happens.