A video clip of an army general berating a Nan district police chief for failing to crack down on illegal timber trading and a casino racket run by his own subordinate has gone viral with internet users voicing over-whelming support for soldiers.
A combined force of 80 rangers and park officials last Tuesday raided a timber factory in Pua district and a resort in Chiang Klang suspected of being involved in the illegal trade of protected lumber and casino operations.
The places were reportedly owned by Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somboon Kaewko of Chiang Klang police station.
The taskforce confiscated many pieces of illegal processed timber and logs at the two locations. They also found weapons and equipment which indicated the resort - Pi Marn Mas Farm - was operating as an underground lottery racket, gambling den and illegal pawnshop.
The team, led by Maj Gen Wijak Sitibansop, chief of the NCPO's Nan Military District, was acting on a tip-off by a member of the public. The information was sent to them via PO Box 555, Nan Military District, which was set up to allow the public to send leads about illegal activities.
In a 20.46-minute video clip uploaded by YouTube member “puiapinya apinya”, Maj Gen Wijak asked tough questions and complained about the way police handled the case to Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somboon's boss. The verbal attack took place between 6.22 and 9.55 minutes of the clip when the task force raided Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somboon’s house.
Maj Gen Wijak asked the police officer how much bribe money he was given by Sen Sgt Maj Somboon to turn a blind eye to his illegal businesses.
“I really want to ask you, in front of the district chief here, how much did he give to ‘take care’ of you each month. Don’t make him answer this question because he is your subordinate.”
The officer appeared extremely uncomfortable and did not answer the question. He was standing next to the district chief, who was sitting next to Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somboon. (Story continues below)
“I’ve been here for about an hour but no one has come to handle this case. I still have to wait for the people supervising this area for half an hour and this is not OK, is it?” Maj Gen Wijak said.
The policeman went silent again and quickly made a phone call.
“The reason the informant did not provide the tip [about the illegal activities] to you, superintendent, and the district chief is because he knows 'what is what'.
“It’s rubbish under the carpet. The first thing the informant asked was ‘don’t tell the police because if you do you will see nothing but ‘beautiful things’,” the general explained. “We’ve already warned that anyone who has their hands on the ‘hot stuff’ should back off. We gave you a chance but you guys just didn’t back off.
“We tried not to think about past things. But we told you to retreat and you did not retreat nor withdraw. I don’t know what else to say, superintendent. And now you are dragging this on, which is not a good thing for you superintendent."
“I had no intention of doing that, sir,” the officer replied, claiming his subordinates were still working at the resort raided earlier by the task force.
The general had earlier asked the police boss whether the failure of police officers to turn up at the house was because he had ordered them to go to Pi Marn Mas Farm resort to get rid of evidence related to underground lottery and casino operations there. “No I didn’t,” the senior police replied.
The general later told Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somboon to accept the consequences of his deeds and the reality that one day he will eventually get caught if he continues with his illegal businesses.