Big Joke arrests corrupt Thai immigration officers issuing fake stamps to foreigners

Immigration chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn has started arresting his own men for being involved in corruption and bribe taking. The chief – known as Big Joke – said there are more arrests to follow. Yesterday he started tidying up a gang of immigration officers at Don Muang immigration who were working with a gang to issue fake entry and exit stamps to foreigners. Three policemen have now been charged. They are two senior sergeant majors – Withayakorn Sarajan, 39 and Theparit Yorsaeng, 47 – and a police corporal, Supachai Simasing, 31. The arrest of the three cops on warrants came after a group of five foreigners were caught on January 9th with illegal entry and exit stamps. Also arrested on warrants yesterday were Victor Adeola, 34 from Nigeria and Wichet Thaweekayujan, 39 and Somsak Bin Hareem, 44. Adeola found clients for the bent cops while Wichet and Somsak posted the illegally stamped passports. Lt Gen Surachate told the media that as the inquiry widens there will be more arrests. The police have been charged with dereliction of duty and accepting or encouraging others to accept bribes. Sen Sgt Maj Withayakorn also faces another charge that was not specified in the TNA report.

Thai Visa / TNA

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