News Forum - Ex-finance minister exposes Phuket police extortion

[Thaiger]

A former finance minister has blown the lid off corrupt police practices in Phuket, exposing a rampant extortion racket targeting tourists. Sommai Phasee took to Facebook to reveal how officers are demanding bribes of 10,000 to 20,000 baht from foreign visitors to avoid being dragged to the police station. “I can’t stand it anymore. Corruption … …

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[Ramanathan.P]

It is really a bold move for the ex-minister to openly come out with such a strong statement. But just wondering what was he doing when he was in power. Wouldn't be it is more effective if he had open his mouth when he was a minister?

[ChrisS]

“I can’t stand it anymore. Corruption is everywhere in Thailand—it’s a disaster that cannot be fixed,” Sommai wrote."

Finally someone actually telling the truth about bribery and corruption in Thailand, can't see him lasting long before he has an 'accident' or gets arrested on trumped up charges. I wonder though will enough Thais finally get their heads out of the sand to actually force the tackling of this issue. I guess if that happens there will just be another coup as the Army don't want Thailand 'cleaned up' either as it is easier to control and manipulate the corrupt.

[AussieBob]

Wow - lets hope this leads to more public statements against corruption in Thailand. Those of us who have been here for many eyars, know that it is ingrained and that it is a 'way of life' here. The only think that will force the issue to be addressed is acceptance that it is widespread and endemic - the 'light' of continued public disclosure is the only things that will reduce it.  It can never be completely removed, and it is in every society, but in Thailand (and many other countries) it is now ingrained deep into the culture and the average Thai has accepted it and learned to live with it, while the wealthy elites use it for their advantage, and the corrupt authorities (not just police) get what they can.   I have said for a while now, that either Big Joke is seriously corrupt - OR he is one of the few clean ones, and the corrupt ones do not want him becomming top dog and tearing down their corruption empires.  Corrupt police, as mentioned in this story and many others such as Ferrari Joe, do not exist in a system where the top dogs are not getting a share of the brown envelopes and extortions. 

[Fanta]

  On 3/15/2025 at 6:09 AM, Thaiger said:

But he insists change is possible if voters and taxpayers pay attention and demand better governance.

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Garbage. To reduce corruption it is mandatory to make the upside of corruption not worth the downside of discovery. eg: Thai cops get paid peanuts which encourages corruption. Heal that open wound with real money and asset strip repeat offenders on both sides of the dirty money deals. 

[Fanta]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:16 AM, AussieBob said:

I have said for a while now, that either Big Joke is seriously corrupt - OR he is one of the few clean ones, and the corrupt ones do not want him becomming top dog and tearing down their corruption empires.

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imo, by choice or not he must be seriously corrupt because he never would have got to where he was or survived without financially motivating his superiors & peers. The RTP is a criminal organisation and any goody two shoes either get along or get dead. Why do you think there are virtually no hot shot lawyers taking down corrupt cops? Should be easy pickings and an easy way to build a reputation but no takers.

[AussieBob]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:03 AM, Fanta said:

imo, by choice or not he must be seriously corrupt because he never would have got to where he was or survived without financially motivating his superiors & peers. The RTP is a criminal organisation and any goody two shoes either get along or get dead. Why do you think there are virtually no hot shot lawyers taking down corrupt cops? Should be easy pickings and an easy way to build a reputation but no takers.

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I hear you and could be correct. But Big Joke was popular in the media, and this latest attempt to bring him down is but one of many episodes where he was demoted and/or transferred - they even attempted to assassinate him some years ago.  Perhaps he played the game to get to his level, but then wanted to change things and he became a threat.  He is young and I figure he will in the future play a role in the big changes that will be happening in Thailand sometime in the future. The current system is starting to fall apart, and rather than trying to make things better for all, the elite are only interested in protecting their own best interests. At some point there will be change - impossible to predict when, but me thinks the longer they take to reform and the worse it gets, the bigger the change will be.  When it comes to things like these it is all a matter of time and temperature - the hotter it gets the quicker it will run downhill.