PHUKET: The next major phase in cleaning up corruption on Phuket begins on Wednesday when leading local politicians are expected to be among a group earmarked for arrest, Phuketwan learned tonight.
Phuket Provincial Court today approved a second tranche of arrest warrants that will be executed by police and the Army mid-week. Precise numbers have yet to be made clear.
As Phase II of the purge of criminal elements from Phuket begins, a large group of soldiers will again arrive on Phuket.
The soldiers will assist with a roundup of suspects that is expected to last until Friday, a second reliable source confirmed today.
At least one of those facing arrest on Wednesday is a local politician with an unexplained amount of money in his bank account.
''This person has more than 100 million baht in an account yet he only has one role as a local Phuket official,'' a source told Phuketwan. ''How can that be?''
Under the coup command that assumed control of Thailand on May 22, it's possible for authorities to review the contents of bank accounts without having to seek approval from the courts.
It is understood much of the activities of the police-led task force still operating on Phuket involve the operations of illegal ''black'' taxis.
The mayor of Kata-Karon was among those arrested in the first series of raids, exclusively revealed by Phuketwan the day before the task force went into action on June 4.
One taxi driver was subsequently found to have more than 100 million baht in a bank account.
The national Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) is believed to have played a leading role in looking at the bank accounts of the second tranche of suspects.
Task Force investigating chief Major General Praveen Pongsirin met with officials from the Damrugtam complaints office last week and took away files of complaints relating to corruption and taxis especially.
He is still taking calls from people with useful information on 081 8936083.
Phuket Provincial Court today approved a second tranche of arrest warrants that will be executed by police and the Army mid-week. Precise numbers have yet to be made clear.
As Phase II of the purge of criminal elements from Phuket begins, a large group of soldiers will again arrive on Phuket.
The soldiers will assist with a roundup of suspects that is expected to last until Friday, a second reliable source confirmed today.
At least one of those facing arrest on Wednesday is a local politician with an unexplained amount of money in his bank account.
''This person has more than 100 million baht in an account yet he only has one role as a local Phuket official,'' a source told Phuketwan. ''How can that be?''
Under the coup command that assumed control of Thailand on May 22, it's possible for authorities to review the contents of bank accounts without having to seek approval from the courts.
It is understood much of the activities of the police-led task force still operating on Phuket involve the operations of illegal ''black'' taxis.
The mayor of Kata-Karon was among those arrested in the first series of raids, exclusively revealed by Phuketwan the day before the task force went into action on June 4.
One taxi driver was subsequently found to have more than 100 million baht in a bank account.
The national Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) is believed to have played a leading role in looking at the bank accounts of the second tranche of suspects.
Task Force investigating chief Major General Praveen Pongsirin met with officials from the Damrugtam complaints office last week and took away files of complaints relating to corruption and taxis especially.
He is still taking calls from people with useful information on 081 8936083.
JUSTICE SHOULD SEIZE THEIR PROPERTIES AND BANK ACCOUNTS, WITH HEAVY FINES AND JAIL FOR ALL CHEATERS, TAX-EVADERS, LAND-GRABBERS AND DOUBLE CONDEMNATION FOR CORRUPT CIVIL SERVANTS
1/- Tax audit with fines up to five times the cheating.
2/- Non-eligibility for years to trade and be shareholder/director for a company.
3/- Heavy fines and perhaps jail terms depending of the extensive fraud done.
4/- In extra, all corrupt politicians and civil servants should be sentenced to a ban for life to serve in the Thai administration.
Posted by Whistle-Blower on June 23, 2014 21:33