Narrow escape for Nauru’s Chinese passport forgers

When police nabbed two Chinese passport forgers operating out of an official Nauru Embassy residence late last year it seemed like another small victory in the fight against Chinese organised crime in the kingdom.

Today, as it becomes clear that 15 officials have been charged in connection with the escape of the two Chinese passport forgers, a small victory has been transformed into a massive humiliation for law enforcers. The case exposes the near impossibility of making progress in a country where the cops are even badder than the so-called bad guys.

Police raided the former consulate of the Pacific island of Nauru in Bangkok late last month following allegations that Chinese citizens were squatting there. Inside officers found two Chinese men – both wanted by Beijing – forging passports for fellow nationals.

But somehow the two managed to escape with the collusion of five officials from the Department of Special Investigations, nine police officers and a military sergeant. The officials, along with a translator, received 10 million baht (US$245,000) from the suspects for their help.

The scheme came to light when the translator confessed after being caught attempting to flee to Malaysia and when a “lost” hard disk containing evidence was discovered.

Official reports said around 2.5 million baht (US$75,550) was seized during the raid, but footage on the hard disk, corroborated by the translator, showed around 8 million baht (US$240,000) had been found.

The cops told the Chinese forgers that 8 million baht was not enough and asked for more.

All 16 were charged with bribery offences. The 15 officials – excluding the translator – were charged with abuse of power. The military sergeant was also charged with attempting to destroy evidence after the hard drive containing images of the raid was discovered at his home. Asking for a bribe carries quite a severe penalty in Thailand… death.

The officials and officers have denied all charges.