Thai cop resigns citing ‘protection of the guilty’

A Thai cop who said he was a sergeant in the central Suphan Buri province resigned from his job. His resignation letter is making waves on social media. In the letter, which a fellow police officer posted on Facebook on Saturday, the officer cites “protection of the guilty” as one of the reasons for the loss of morale among police. Another reason is “neglect for honest officers,” Bangkok Post reported

The officer added in his statement that he “never faced a criminal charge or underwent a review by a disciplinary committee.”

The officer who posted the letter wrote that he agreed with the letter. He said…

“I feel the same. If I wasn’t in debt with the police cooperative I would also consider resigning, not because I don’t love the police, I love it very much, but because some higher-ups have made this organisation unbearable.”

The post has since received an outpouring of support from other users, with many agreeing with the officer’s sentiments.

Another commenter posted an image with the message “resignation is easier than changing the culture of an organisation you do not own.”

This news comes amid several allegations against police in recent months, including involvement with Chinese gangsters in major gambling and extortion cases.

Earlier this month, Royal Thai Police (RTP) revealed they uncovered a massive visa scam involving 110 bent immigration cops. RTP Deputy Commander Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn held a press conference at the Police Club, where he exposed details of the illegal operation. The corrupt cops illegally offered visas to foreigners, especially Chinese investors.

According to Big Joke, the outlaw officers formed a network with local visa agencies, illegally issuing visas to foreigners, especially Chinese investors looking to do business in Thailand. The officers used fake documents such as membership certificates from a non-profit foundation and student certifications from universities to grant visas.

Earlier this week, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted that corruption in the RTP has been ongoing for years and that all involved must help clean up the police force.

Despite the Thai government’s efforts to combat police corruption, it remains a significant problem. The Thai police force has been criticized for its culture of impunity and lack of transparency. Many Thais remain sceptical about the ability of the government to effectively tackle police corruption.