Chat about police corruption online, go to jail

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Adm Phajun who oversees police reform in NLA & is former Gen Prem aide, discusses position-buying in police on Line chat app & gets charged by police for violating Computer Crimes Act.

POLICE REFORM

Chat about police corruption online, go to jail

29/02/2016
Wassana Nanuam

Merely forwarding an online chat message accusing an army general of being involved in position-buying in the police force is apparently a criminal act.

The accused, Admiral Phajun Tampratheep, is no ordinary citizen.

Adm Phajun is a member of Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and is chairman of the NLA's sub-committee on police reform, he said he was gathering details to send to the Prime Minister.

Adm Phajun is also a former close aide to Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda.

Adm Phajun reportedly forwarded a Line chat message to his friends about alleged involvement of an army general close to the cabinet in position-buying in the police force.

POLICE DISCREDITED SO POLICE ACTION WARRANTED

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, also defence minister, backed a police action against the admiral.

He said the police took action because their community was discredited by the message and they would not let their organisation be undermined.

Gen Prawit insisted there had been no position-buying as long as he had been in charge and those who claimed they could secure police posts in that way were lying to get money.

Police issued a summons on Friday requiring Adm Phajun to report to the Cyber Crime Division, under the Central Investigation Bureau, on March 10 to acknowledge a charge of violating the Computer Crime Act.

ADMIRAL DISMISSES POLICE SUMMONS AS INSIGNIFICANT

Meanwhile, Adm Phajun on Sunday dismissed the police summons as insignificant.

He said the Line message referred to problems relating to a police reshuffle but no one was specifically named.

He received the message from a friend and sent it to two friend groups to ask if anyone could verify the information.

As the chairman of the NLA's sub-committee on police reforms, he said he was gathering details to send to the prime minister.

However, he questioned the timing of the police action, saying the message was sent several weeks ago.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/879528/prawit-backs-anti-police-summons