Phuket

List alleges massive extortion scheme among Phuket officers

Published

5 years ago

Thursday, August 4, 2016

List alleges massive extortion scheme among Phuket officers | The Thaiger

PHUKET: The publication of a list of 20 government offices whose officers are allegedly extorting bribes from employers of migrant workers has prompted an embarrassed Phuket governor and the provincial police head to condemn corruption and vow to investigate the allegations.

The list, which details officers’ names, departments and phone numbers, went viral across social media sites including Facebook and Line yesterday.

Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada demanded evidence to confirm the allegations.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen said he was aware of the list and that “justice will be served”.

The allegations come after a crowd of more than a hundred employers of migrant workers gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall to protest the difficulties in registering their workers (story here).

The revelation comes after news on August 1 that a Myanmar national was allegedly abducted and forced to pay 120,000 baht to men claiming to be police officers investigating migrant workers (story here).

The list shows that officers would take 2,000 baht per month from migrant employers on the tenth of every month. Implicated in the allegations are Region 8 Police, Phuket Provincial Police, Phuket City Police, Patong Police, Thung Thong Police, Wichit Police, Immigration Police, Tourist Police, Border Patrol Police, Royal Thai Special Branch Police, Phuket Provincial Office personnel and officers from several divisions of the Central Investigation Bureau.

The list also details whether the monthly transactions were to be made in person or by wire transfer. It alleges that 3,000 baht a month goes to the Bangkok Office of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee.

“I’d heard about some bribery schemes over some migrant employers a long time ago and I sent out a letter ordering them to collect all the evidence they have and to file complaints against those officers,” Gov Chamroen said. “However, to this day, I’ve never received any complaint or evidence of bribery from them.”

“If the employers of migrants feel they’re being bullied or treated unfairly, I encourage them to please come to see me,” he added. “I will personally oversee the investigation.”

Gen Teeraphol said his office will be investigating the allegations in two stages.

“Our first priority is to find out if those officers are real, then to find out where this list came from,” he said. “I personally have never gotten involved in any form of bribery or extortion. If the employers of migrant workers feel that they have received unfair treatment from any officer, please file a complaint with us.”

Gen Teeraphol said he would appoint a deputy commander to handle the case.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

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News Categories: Phuket

Crime

2 Phuket Town nightclubs shut down after allegedly violating multiple laws

Published

44 mins ago

Saturday, March 6, 2021

Ann Carter

2 Phuket Town nightclubs shut down after allegedly violating multiple laws | The Thaiger

2 Phuket Town nightclubs are shutting down after allegedly violating multiple laws. The Maldives and H20 on Lim Sui Ju Road, on the south end of Phuket Town were ordered by the Phuket Governor to close immediately, with the Maldives being orderd to close for 5 years.

The order comes after the Phuket City Police inspected the Maldives club, arresting the manager for operating an entertainment venue without a permit, allowing people under 20 years old to work or “use services in the venue,” and for selling alcohol without a permit.

Governor Narong cited his authority under Section 4 of NCPO order 22/2558 to order the Maldives nightclub to be closed for 5 years, from March 5, 2021 to March 4, 2026.

The order also prohibits the operators from opening any other entertainment venues during the same period. The H20 nightclub was ordered to close by a provincial order after Phuket City Police say they inspected the venue and charged the operator for selling or providing shisha, or baraku, without permission.

The owner was also accused of operating an entertainment venue without a permit and violating the provincial order for enforcing Covid-19 safety measures. But it is unknown what penalties were handed down to the operator of the H20 nightclub, unlike the Maldives operator, who received a penalty.

Instead, the governor cited the Revolution Council announcement of 1959, to shut down the establishment for 30 days from March 5, 2021 to April 3, 2021. The orders noted that both operators of the clubs have the right to appeal the closures, having 15 days to file an appeal directly with the Phuket Governor.

Meanwhile, Phuket is set to open its doors to vaccinated, international tourists by October, pending the government’s approval. The local government’s initiative, named Phuket First October, proposes vaccinating a majority of its population over 18 years of age in time for the high season.

The move would allow thousands of vaccinated Europeans to enter Thailand, while locals would be protected from the virus symptoms.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

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Drugs

Early morning drug busts in Phuket yield 9 arrests

Published

1 day ago

Friday, March 5, 2021

Ann Carter

Early morning drug busts in Phuket yield 9 arrests | The Thaiger

An early morning drug bust in Rawai, Phuket has yielded 9 arrests. The first raid yesterday consisted of 30 task force members who raided a sea gypsy shack near the beachfront in Rawai.

43 year old Saroch Homhuan, and 34 year old Juree Bangjak, were arrested and charged with posession of a Category I drug with the intent to sell, after police found 9 pills of methamphetamine, or yaba in Thai, over 6 grams of crystal meth, or ya ice in Thai, and 3 other “items of evidence.”

31 year old Suriyan Na Takuathung, and 29 year old Prathip Areerop, were arrested and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell, and possession of a Category 5 drug respectively. Police say they found 20 pills of methamphetamine, 0.92 grams of dried marijuana and 5 items of drug paraphernalia.

Police also raided 2 houses in Moo 2, arresting 5 suspects, named as 21 year old Vikrom Kongwiriyakul, 32 year old Narunat Chanthamuwong, 18 year old Chanchai Damrongkaset, a woman named Chantha Hansaithong, and 21 year old Warut Rodphan.

Warut was allegedly found with a bottle containing 500 millilitres of kratom juice. Police also say they seized 150 grams of kratom leaf dregs which are used to boil leaves in order to make the juice. Police charged him with posession of a Category 5 drug.

Police say they confiscated a total of 13 litres of kratom juice from 4 other suspects, which was contained in 10 bottles along with other ingredients and equipment to produce the drug cocktail called ‘4×100.’

All 9 suspects were taken to the Chalong Police Station in which only 1 agreed to undergo drug rehabilitation.

The raids come after the Phuket Provincial Government ordered officers of the Muang District Office to target villages where drugs are prevalent. A spokesman for the government said police will continue to remove drug traffickers from the community while working to improve the quality of local people’s lives so they don’t have to use drugs anymore.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

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Tourism

Thailand to introduce “area quarantine” for international visitors from April

Published

1 day ago

Friday, March 5, 2021

Maya Taylor

Thailand to introduce “area quarantine” for international visitors from April | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Andreas M on Unsplash

From next month, foreign visitors to the Kingdom will be able to experience the delights of “area quarantine”, after the government confirmed the scheme for 5 provinces. Following a meeting with the Public Health Ministry, the Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri (Pattaya), and Surat Thani (Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan) have been chosen to pilot the scheme.

Foreign tourists opting for area quarantine will be required to remain in their hotel rooms for the first 3 days of their stay. They will be tested for Covid-19 and, if negative after 3 days, will be allowed to leave their room and roam freely around the resort for the remainder of their 14-day quarantine. At the end of the 14-day period, they will once again be tested for the virus and, if negative, allowed to travel around the quarantine area.

In order to avail of the scheme, tourists will still need to fulfil the other requirements for travel, including obtaining a Certificate of Entry, a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours prior to travel, and adequate health insurance. Nation Thailand reports that the area quarantine plan will be run by 29 travel agencies, under TAT supervision.

The area quarantine scheme comes as the TAT hails the success of the first “golf quarantine” scheme, which operates in a similar manner. Travellers from countries considered “low-risk” for Covid-19 can come to Thailand for a golf holiday at approved golf resorts in the Kingdom. Conditions are similar to those attached to area quarantine, with the golfers having to spend the first 3 days in their room, test negative for the virus, and then enjoy free rein of the resort, with a few rounds of golf thrown in.

Thailand’s economy has been decimated by the fallout from the pandemic, in particular the loss of international tourism. The current mandatory 14-day quarantine period is seen as the biggest hurdle to overcome in order to re-ignite the sector. In 2019, international tourism contributed 2 trillion baht out of a total 3.01 trillion baht tourism trade. In the same year, tourism made up 17% of Thailand’s GDP.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

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