Boonsueb Praithuen, once the chief of the Marine Police Division, was unceremoniously stripped of his police rank and royal decorations in December 2015 after being dismissed for egregious disciplinary violations. This revelation was just the tip of an iceberg revealed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
The NACC uncovered a surprising fortune amassed by Boonsueb and two other senior police officers, painting a murky picture of corruption within the ranks. In the primary case, Boonsueb Praithuen, the former Marine Police Division chief under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), was found to have engaged in brazen illicit activities. NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol detailed the allegations against him.
Boonsueb had been extracting bribes from oil smuggling rings and fuel traders. These unscrupulous individuals were compelled to make monthly deposits into five separate bank accounts held by him and his wife. The staggering total reached 36.77 million baht, with some of this ill-gotten wealth funneled into purchasing life insurance policies. Conclusively, the NACC found Boonsueb guilty of grossly unethical enrichment and sent their findings to the Attorney-General, recommending the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases confiscate his illegally obtained assets.
Boonsueb was previously stripped of his rank and royal decorations back in December 2015 following his dismissal for serious misconduct. He was a trusted aide to former CIB chief Pongpat Chayapan, whose nefarious criminal network crumbled in 2014. Currently, all involved, including Boonsueb, are serving prison sentences for a plethora of offenses, ranging from bribe solicitation to corruption and lese-majeste. Pongpat’s gang had hoarded billions of baht in cash, properties, jewelry, and a vast collection of art and artifacts between 2009 and 2014.
The second case investigated by the NACC revealed allegations against Pol Col Noppadol Ninmanon. While serving as the deputy commander of the drug trafficking interdiction division under the Narcotics Suppression Division (NSD) between 2013 and 2016, Noppadol allegedly fabricated informants to claim cash rewards for drug arrests and seizures across 44 cases. These fraudulent rewards, amounting to 61.65 million baht, were deposited into his bank accounts. He supposedly spent 6 million baht acquiring a house and land in Rim Kok, Muang District of Chiang Rai, and another 1.3 million baht on two plots in Tha Sai, a northern province.
The NACC recommended that the Attorney-General petition the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to confiscate Noppadol’s illicit assets. If a court ruling aligns with the NACC’s findings, Noppadol’s immediate superior would be obligated to dismiss him from the police force within 60 days, according to Mr. Niwatchai.
The third case involved Pol Col Phetcharaporn Mongphonmuang, who served as a deputy commander overseeing the drug trafficking interdiction division of the NSD between 2015 and 2017. During this period, she made significant deposits into her bank accounts, purchased gold weighing 120 baht (approximately 1.82 kilograms) worth about 4.9 million baht, acquired two land plots in Chiang Mai for 2.2 million baht, and repaid bank debts totaling 713,000 baht.
The NACC’s scrutiny revealed that Pol Col Phetcharaporn’s legitimate income was insufficient to cover these lavish expenses, leading to suspicions of financial impropriety. Consequently, the NACC suggested the Attorney-General ask the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to seize her illegally obtained assets. A court ruling consistent with the NACC’s report would necessitate her immediate superior to relieve her from her duties within 60 days. This phase of revelations underscores a systemic issue within the police force, spotlighting the need for stringent accountability and probity.
This level of corruption is absolutely shocking! How did these people even get into such high positions in the first place?
It’s really not surprising if you think about the systemic issues within the police force. It’s like this everywhere.
As someone within the force, I’d argue the majority are honest. It’s the few bad apples that get all the headlines.
I get that, but at a certain point, a few bad apples can rot the whole barrel.
Well, high positions often come with high temptations. Easy to criticize until you’re holding millions in your hands.
That doesn’t excuse it. They were supposed to be upholding the law, not breaking it.
Why aren’t there stricter checks and audits in place to prevent this level of corruption?
Exactly! I mean, if these people thought they could get away with it, the system is obviously flawed.
Corruption thrives in secrecy. We need transparency and public engagement to force accountability.
Agreed. There should be independent bodies regularly auditing every high officer’s finances.
This is a travesty! The whole police force should be investigated. Who knows how deep this goes?
Investigating the whole force would be a massive task, but definitely necessary. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Honestly, I think this happens everywhere. It’s not just Thailand. People just don’t get caught as often.
It’s commendable that the NACC is taking action, but how can we trust the rest of the system? More transparency is needed.
Seeing this kind of corruption makes you wonder if justice was ever truly served in past cases handled by these individuals.
Good point. Every case they worked on should be re-evaluated. It’s a matter of public trust.
Indeed, Emma. If trust in the police erodes, society suffers. This needs to be a wake-up call.
Reevaluating all those cases would be an enormous task. Is it even practical?
The level of corruption exposed here is beyond belief. It makes you lose trust in the whole system.
How can we ensure that future officers are transparent and trustworthy?
Education and rigorous screening processes are essential, but we also need strong oversight mechanisms.
Don’t forget these crooks were also involved in lese-majeste. They crossed every possible line!
Yes, which means their actions weren’t just corruption, but a direct affront to national dignity.
I think that’s what makes their actions even more egregious. They abused both their power and the nation’s trust.
Absolutely! Their betrayal was on multiple levels and they deserve severe punishment.
The damage isn’t just financial. Think about the psychological and societal impact of such betrayal by those in power.
All the money and assets they collected—what happens to it now? Does it go back to the government?
I’m skeptical about how much of that seized wealth will actually benefit the public. Corruption often has a thousand layers.
True! Even if the money goes back to the government, there’s little guarantee it will be used for public good.
In my opinion, these people shouldn’t just lose their jobs or their rank. They should face real consequences like long prison sentences.
The role of whistleblowers should be highlighted here. They’re the unsung heroes in exposing such corruption.
If high-ranking officials are involved in this, imagine the lower ranks. We need a total overhaul of the system to root this out.
It’s disheartening but true. Corruption is often top-down. Cleaning the system from the top could set a strong example.
This is why it’s crucial to have a decentralized power structure. Too much power in one place always leads to corruption.
Seeing stories like this makes me worry about how many innocent people might be sitting in jail because of fabricated cases.
Exposing corruption is only step one. The real challenge is implementing reforms so it doesn’t happen again.