PHUKET: The crackdown on human trafficking in Thailand is expected to swing to the port of Ranong, on the border with Burma north of Phuket, as a senior officer with a reputation for results orders many more arrests.
Major General Paween Pongsirin led last year's investigation into Phuket's beach sunbed corruption and Patong Mayor Pian Keesin before being swung to Koh Tao where he laid charges against two young Burmese over the hoe-hacking murders of British tourists Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24.
The major general told Phuketwan tonight that his latest assignment from the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, General Somyot Poompanmoung, began a week ago: to investigate human trafficking in southern Thailand and along the Andaman holiday coast.
''We have made 10 arrests and there are still another 39 warrants pending,'' Major General Paween said. ''Twenty of those people are civilians and the rest are officials and local politicians.''
Now the focus is switching to Ranong, the port in the province of the same name, where the biggest human traffickers in Thailand have long been thought to live and work.
With investigations continuing in and around Pedang Besar, a town on the Thai-Malaysian southern border, investigators today raided the home and office of arrested mayor Banyong Pongpon to confiscate documents, bank books and other items that may indicate unexpected wealth.
''The mayor will, of course, be able to reclaim everything if his innocence is established,'' the major general said.
Major General Paween has spent the week in Pedang Besar. Although a Deputy Commander in Region 8, which covers Phuket and six other southern provinces, Major General Paween now has investigatory powers across Region 9 as well.
While his focus is clearly on human trafficking, he said he still took an interest in other recent cases in which he had some involvement.
On Koh Tao, Major General Paween took over the murders investigation from other officers late last year and charged Burmese Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, whose trial begins on Samui in July.
There are accusations that the pair's confessions were extracted by torture before Major General Paween took over.
On Phuket, a long undercover investigation into sunbed operators led to charges that were followed by a dramatic raid on the mansion owned by the former Mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, and more charges.
Pian Keesin died soon after and the case against him was dropped. Charges against others are proceeding.
Major General Paween was transferred to the Koh Tao murder probe and promoted to Deputy Commander of Region 8 before he could begin a new investigation on Phuket.
He was believed to be planning to look at jet-ski operators.
The finding of bodies of Rohingya from Burma and Bangladeshi victims of human traffickers in camps in southern Thailand and along the Andaman coast this month has ignited calls for Thailand to end the inhumane business.
WATCH How Trafficking Works
Phuketwan Investigative reporter Chutima Sidasathian, still being sued for criminal defamation over a Reuters paragraph: ''It's worse and worse, day by day. Nobody cares''.
http://journeyman.tv/67116/short-films/rohingya-hd.html
LISTEN The Rohingya Solution
A tragedy almost beyond words has been unfolding in Thailand, where a human smuggling network is thriving with the full knowledge of some corrupt law enforcement officers. Alan Morison of Phuketwan talks to Australia's AM program.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4231108.htm
Major General Paween Pongsirin led last year's investigation into Phuket's beach sunbed corruption and Patong Mayor Pian Keesin before being swung to Koh Tao where he laid charges against two young Burmese over the hoe-hacking murders of British tourists Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24.
The major general told Phuketwan tonight that his latest assignment from the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, General Somyot Poompanmoung, began a week ago: to investigate human trafficking in southern Thailand and along the Andaman holiday coast.
''We have made 10 arrests and there are still another 39 warrants pending,'' Major General Paween said. ''Twenty of those people are civilians and the rest are officials and local politicians.''
Now the focus is switching to Ranong, the port in the province of the same name, where the biggest human traffickers in Thailand have long been thought to live and work.
With investigations continuing in and around Pedang Besar, a town on the Thai-Malaysian southern border, investigators today raided the home and office of arrested mayor Banyong Pongpon to confiscate documents, bank books and other items that may indicate unexpected wealth.
''The mayor will, of course, be able to reclaim everything if his innocence is established,'' the major general said.
Major General Paween has spent the week in Pedang Besar. Although a Deputy Commander in Region 8, which covers Phuket and six other southern provinces, Major General Paween now has investigatory powers across Region 9 as well.
While his focus is clearly on human trafficking, he said he still took an interest in other recent cases in which he had some involvement.
On Koh Tao, Major General Paween took over the murders investigation from other officers late last year and charged Burmese Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, whose trial begins on Samui in July.
There are accusations that the pair's confessions were extracted by torture before Major General Paween took over.
On Phuket, a long undercover investigation into sunbed operators led to charges that were followed by a dramatic raid on the mansion owned by the former Mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, and more charges.
Pian Keesin died soon after and the case against him was dropped. Charges against others are proceeding.
Major General Paween was transferred to the Koh Tao murder probe and promoted to Deputy Commander of Region 8 before he could begin a new investigation on Phuket.
He was believed to be planning to look at jet-ski operators.
The finding of bodies of Rohingya from Burma and Bangladeshi victims of human traffickers in camps in southern Thailand and along the Andaman coast this month has ignited calls for Thailand to end the inhumane business.
WATCH How Trafficking Works
Phuketwan Investigative reporter Chutima Sidasathian, still being sued for criminal defamation over a Reuters paragraph: ''It's worse and worse, day by day. Nobody cares''.
http://journeyman.tv/67116/short-films/rohingya-hd.html
LISTEN The Rohingya Solution
A tragedy almost beyond words has been unfolding in Thailand, where a human smuggling network is thriving with the full knowledge of some corrupt law enforcement officers. Alan Morison of Phuketwan talks to Australia's AM program.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4231108.htm
Without being picky, is it bot correct to change the title of Major General Paween to his new title of Deputy Commisioner Paween, or has somebody forgotten his new title?
Posted by Graham on May 9, 2015 22:56