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PHUKET vendors accused of breaching fair-trading standards have alleged at a public protest that Consumer Affairs officers demanded a bribe of 600,000 baht - yet vendors already pay bribes to the Economic Crime Division police to avoid arrest.
The deputy chief of the ECD police, Colonel Chainarong Jalernchainao, told Phuketwan today that there was no truth in the bribery allegations.
''We are conducting a planned crackdown on a red-zone where breaches of the law are frequently drawn to our attention,'' he said. ''There is no bribery of ECD officers. The Consumer Affairs Office also does not take bribes.
''If vendors want to prevent being arrested, they should stop selling copy goods, and stop paying bribes.''
The vendors, representing a group operating out of Soi Ton off Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road in Patong, waved placards alleging the bribes in a protest outside Kathu Police Station yesterday.
According to protesters, the alleged bribe was supposed to prevent them being arrested for not having prices prominently displayed on goods for sale around that area.
However, Economic Crime Division police officers from Bangkok conducted a raid yesterday and arrested six vendors. Earlier in the week, one of the vendors had told local media that an ECD police officer had approached the group, and asked for money to prevent a raid and arrests.
This claim was also rejected today by Colonel Chainarong.
The vendors claimed they were told when they mounted their protest at the police station that if there were media reports about the allegations, then officers would visit their shops more regularly.
Vendors moved inside the Kathu police station, wanting to talk to the colonel in charge. However, the colonel told them that as his officers were not involved, there was little he could do.
The vendors told Phuketwan that the colonel said the Prime Minister was on Phuket [for the Democrat MPs meeting] and urged them to not continue their protest.
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So the ECD police told them to stop paying bribes to who? If not his department?
Sorry, I am confused.
Posted by Vfaye on August 1, 2010 12:57