17-11-2017

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

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Friday, November 17 – Thursday, November 23, 2017

Since 2011 / Volume VII / No. 46

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BILLION-BAHT SPORTS COMPLEX AFOOT > PAGE 31

NO MORE BACKHANDERS

NEWS

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Brit drowns amid lifeguard crisis

LIFE

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Take chances to make a difference Police in Phuket are under fire for allegedly taking payments so some people can dodge the law. Photo: The Phuket News / file

PHUKET POLICE, IMMIGRATION OFFICERS UNDER INVESTIGATION, TRANSFERRED FOR CORRUPTION The Phuket News reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

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huket police and immigration officers came under heavy scrutiny this week with 15 police officers under investigation for suspected corruption amid accusations of allegedly pocketing up to B100 million in bribes to not report foreigners illegally staying in the country. Three Phuket Immigration officers were transferred to Bangkok with immediate effect on Tuesday

(Nov 14), while former Patong Police Chief Col Chaiwat Uikam and the Patong Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Somsak Thongkleng were transferred out of Phuket until further notice last Friday (Nov 10) following allegations of taking bribes from entertainment venues in Patong. Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Peerayuth Karajadee publicly revealed the extent of the alleged racket of shakedowns and possible extortion to not present illegal immigrants arrested to Phuket Immigration for deportation in a notice

issued to Region 8 Police dated last Sunday, but revealed on Monday. The notice explained that Phuket Provincial Police had learned that 142 illegal immigrants had been arrested but not presented to immigration, thus sparking the fuller probe into all police stations across Phuket. Those 142 were exposed following the arrest of 95 “illegal aliens” – reported as 62 Indians, 11 Pakistanis, six Egyptians and 16 “others” – in raids on Nov 8-10 by a task force of Immigration officers, soldiers from Royal Thai Army 5th Infantry Divi-

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@thephuketnews

sion, Phuket Provincial Police and Patong Police as part of a nationwide crackdown on an estimated 200,000 foreigners illegally staying in the country. Leading those raids in Phuket were Maj Gen Jessada Saiyun, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau Region 6 based in Songkhla, and his Deputy Commander Col Nattapakin Kwanchaiyapruek. “There are many foreigners working in Phuket. However, we have found that there are some foreigners who have overstayed their visas, and...

SPORT

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Laguna Marathon strikes SPIA gold


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