The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has stirred quite a buzz, accusing a former chief of the Marine Police Division and two other high-ranking officers of obtaining wealth that raised more than a few eyebrows. Let’s dive into the intriguing sagas unraveling under the NACC’s watchful eye.
First, we find ourselves in the muddy waters with Boonsueb Praithuen, once the chief of the Marine Police Division under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). According to NACC’s secretary-general, Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, Boonsueb was caught in a net of his own making, allegedly demanding monthly kickbacks from a group of oil smugglers and legitimate fuel dealers. These illicit funds, amounting to a whopping 36.77 million baht, were funneled into five bank accounts held by him and his wife.
With the convenient extra income, Boonsueb indulged in lavish life insurance policies, among other things. But his extravagant lifestyle did not go unnoticed. The NACC has now passed the baton to the attorney general, recommending that the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases seize Boonsueb’s ill-gotten gains. Following his disgraceful fall from grace, Boonsueb was stripped of his police major rank and royal decorations in December 2015 after a series of “gross disciplinary violations.”
A key player in this tale, Boonsueb was known to be a close confidant of former CIB chief Pongpat Chayapa, who found himself hoisted on his own petard in 2014. Pongpat’s grand criminal network, spanning multiple illegal activities, had amassed vast wealth, including billions in cash, property, and even an impressive collection of art and artefacts. Both now serve time, facing charges that stretch from bribery and malfeasance to lese majeste.
Next on the NACC stage is the saga of Pol Col Noppadol Ninmanon. During his tenure as the deputy commander of the drug trafficking interdiction division under the Narcotics Suppression Division (NSD) between 2013 and 2016, Noppadol stands accused of inventing fictitious informants to claim hefty rewards for drug busts. These bogus rewards, amounting to an eye-watering 61.65 million baht, found their way into his bank accounts, according to Mr. Niwatchai.
Noppadol’s spending spree included splurging 6 million baht on a horse and a piece of land in tambon Rim Kok, nestled in the scenic Muang district of Chiang Rai. Not stopping there, he invested another 1.3 million baht to scoop up two more land plots in tambon Tha Sai. In response, the NACC is waving the red flag, urging the attorney general to ask the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to seize Noppadol’s assets too.
Finally, we turn our eyes to Pol Col Phetcharaporn Mongphonmuang, who served as a deputy commander of the drug trafficking interdiction division under the NSD from 2015 to 2017. Allegations against her include making significant deposits into her bank accounts, buying gold weighing 120 baht (approximately 1.82 kilograms), procuring two land plots in Chiang Mai worth 2.2 million baht, and repaying debts totaling 713,000 baht.
The NACC’s investigation revealed that Phetcharaporn’s legitimate income couldn’t possibly account for her extensive gold collection. Unsurprisingly, the watchdog is urging legal action to have these assets confiscated, claiming the acquisitions far outstripped her rightful earnings.
With these accusations stacking up like a dramatic thriller, the NACC is indeed leaving no stone unturned. Stay tuned as these cases unravel further, promising a gripping follow-up on law and order inside the ranks of Thailand’s finest.
This is beyond shocking. How do people in such important positions get away with this for so long?
The system is clearly broken. There needs to be more accountability at every level.
Absolutely. But where do we even start to fix this mess?
Incredible how these officers turn into criminals with badges. How can the public trust the police when this keeps happening?
It’s the corruption at the very top that trickles down. You can’t expect clean streets when the top brass is so dirty.
Exactly. The fish rots from the head. Major reforms are needed.
Wow, that’s a lot of money they swindled. And people wonder why the country struggles economically.
Exactly. All that money could have been used for public welfare projects instead of personal luxuries.
Greed is a powerful motivator, unfortunately. It’s always the common people who suffer.
Let’s not act surprised. This level of corruption is pretty normal in many countries.
That doesn’t make it any less infuriating. Just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s acceptable!
So the NACC is actually doing its job for once. Maybe there’s hope after all.
Well, better late than never. But they should’ve caught these guys years ago.
True. But at least it’s a start. Let’s see if this leads to real change.
These stories just keep getting worse. The police are supposed to protect us, not rob us.
Right? It’s like living in a dystopian novel. It’s scary to think of how deep this goes.
How many more are there that we don’t know about? This can’t be an isolated incident.
It’s not just a problem in Thailand. Corruption is everywhere in the world.
Imagine what they could do if they used their smarts for good instead of crime.
They’d probably change the world! But alas, their greed overpowers their morality.
These revelations are sickening. The entire system needs a massive overhaul.
It’s cases like these that make people really lose faith in law enforcement.
Faith? It’s already gone. This is why nobody trusts the police anymore.
This is exactly why people are skeptical about anti-corruption agencies.
They need to start rooting out these bad apples much earlier. Prevention is key.
Easier said than done when the corruption is so deeply entrenched.
Sounds like a script from a crime TV show, only it’s real life. Unbelievable!
The saddest part is that honest officers are overshadowed by these corrupt ones.
True. Not all cops are bad, but how can the good ones stand a chance in a corrupt system?
I wonder if they’ll ever recover all that money. It’s probably hidden somewhere offshore.
Looks like justice is finally being served. Let’s hope this is the start of a bigger cleanup.