Video: Bribery in action?

A viral video clip shows a van driver handing money to a policeman. Social media users see a bribe being given, but the driver says he was just repaying a debt. Watch and decide for yourself.

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Video: Bribery in action?

The social media has become a great place for ordinary people to expose wrongdoings in society. People are actively taking videos or photos with their smartphones of what they believe is illegal or improper behaviour.

Their Facebook posts often go viral with dozens of people writing to condemn the actions they see. But do the video clips tell the real story?

Here is the latest video clip to go viral.

In the clip, posted on Wednesday by Facebook user AA'Hiace Korat, a van driver was caught on camera handing money to a policeman at a no-parking zone near Lumpini Park.

The officer hastily put the money in his pocket and had a quick chat with the driver, before riding off on his motorcycle.

The incident prompted net users, who assumed the money was a bribe, to demand authorities investigate and take action against the policeman and the driver.

Pol Col Pornchai Chalordet, superintendent of Lumpini police station, later told reporters police will investigate whether the officer was taking a bribe, as it could be a misunderstanding. If guilty, he would be penalised, he said.

However, on Thursday, 52-year-old Sayan Puakpeng reported to police, saying he was the person in the video who handed 600 baht to Pol Sub Lt Sarawut Ruabruamwong, a traffic policeman in Lumpini.

"Pol Sub Lt Sarawut and I are close friends. I owed him 1,000 baht after he paid for my drinks last Friday. On Wednesday, I drove to Lumpini and called him to come and get 600 baht from me first.

"It's not bribery. If it's bribery, it wouldn't take place in the open, surely," the van driver said.

Do you believe him? Watch the video again and decide if it supports his excuse.

Adapted from a story by our multimedia reporters.

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