The police inspector-general on Wednesday asked national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang for another week to wrap the investigation into alleged corruption by immigration officers.
Pol Gen Somyot early this month ordered inspector-general Pol Lt Gen Nares Nontachote to conduct an immediate inquiry into six corrupt practices he claimed are commonly carried out by border agents employed by the Immigration Police Bureau. He demanded a final report by Sept 23.
Pol Maj Gen Charanwit Weeradejkampang, deputy chief and spokesman of the Office of the Inspector-General, said 10 working panels met on Tuesday and agreed they would need more time to investigate, They could report their findings to Pol Gen Somyot by Sept 30.
He said the teams had descended on major immigration divisions and offices nationwide, but the investigation remained broad and had yet to focus on the six offences outlined by the police chief.
The six offenses Pol Gen Somyot said were widely reported in the media include extending stays unlawfully in exchange for money; violating entry and exit protocols despite knowing foreigners have no valid reasons for extending their stays; taking bribes for illegitimate entries by people with and without passports; putting in fake entry stamps to enable people to go to a third country; selling the TM 6 departure card for workers in Thailand; and charging extra fees for visas on arrival, mainly at Suvanarbhumi and Don Mueang airports.
The national chief wanted a clear and insightful investigation of these six issues, Pol Maj Gen Charanwit added.
Pol Gen Somyot ordered the inquiry after he told reporters Adem Karadag, the first suspect arrested for involvement in the Erawan shrine bombing, paid immigration police in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo province, US$600, or about 21,000 baht, to cross into Thailand.