Kathu Police Chief to move in as Acting-Chief of Patong Police

Today (November 21), Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Pol. Maj. Gen. Teerapol Thipcharoen, signed the approval for the Kathu Police Station Superintendent to be acting Patong Police Station Superintendent. This follows the transfer of several officers over the ongoing bribe scandal including former Patong Superintendent, Pol. Col. Tassanai Oladirek.

Pol. Col. M.L. Pattanachak Chakrabhan will move from Kathu Police Station to be acting Patong Police Station Superintendent while Pol.Col Chawalit Niemwadee from Phuket Police Station will replace him as the new Kathu Police Station Superintendent.

Pol.Col. Witoon Kongsudjai, Deputy Phuket Provincial Police Commander will closely monitor the work of Patong Police Station.

The shifts follow a week of mounting evidence of systemic corruption and ‘brown paper bag’ payments made by Patong businesses – principally in the entertainment, beverage, restaurant and gambling industries – to ‘dodgy’ police.

A submission to the Thai PM from local Facebook portal ‘Spotlight Phuket’ has opened up a Pandora’s Box of long-term corruption, extortion and blackmail between some Phuket police and local Patong businesses. ‘Spotlight Phuket’ estimates the payments each month to be up to 20 million Baht.

Read the details of the story HERE.