DSI backs bid for prison phonetaps

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DSI backs bid for prison phonetaps

Tarit says move could help stop drug dealers continuing trade from behind bars

Published: 5/02/2012 at 02:45 AM
Newspaper section: News

The Department of Special Investigation has seconded a government proposal to tap the phones of prison inmates suspected of dealing drugs from behind bars.

The proposal was floated by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, although he said the legal aspects must be studied first.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said his is among four agencies assigned by the Justice Ministry to rein in the drug trade involving prison inmates.

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: Writer: King-oua Laohong; Position: Reporter

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siamskunk
Post : 12
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Discussion 13 : 06/02/2012 at 02:13 PM13
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dis. 6 is right 100%....the inmates are the drug mules/gangsters/traffickers....they are in there with an opportunity to make money and keep the show going...with payoffs to prison officials...i have a very close friend whom i talk to everyday from bangkwang, thanks to ais, and a few helpful prison guards.
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lazar
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Discussion 12 : 05/02/2012 at 08:49 PM12
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How can cell phones be illegal in prison if everyone has one? Do they have a 7/11 in the prison too so they can buy topup cards?
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koolbreez
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Discussion 11 : 05/02/2012 at 07:42 PM11
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So this is why all the red shirt so called political prisoners were moved to their own prison, so they wouldn't be implicated in anything illegal going on in the other prisons if their phones were tapped because of this investigation. How convenient in the way the government is protecting their phones from being tapped in case they were suspected of doing something wrong. What happens now if some of the conversations are traced to the red shirt prison as I will take odds some of them do have illegal cell phone to use in prison?
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lookmoo
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Discussion 10 : 05/02/2012 at 05:47 PM10
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What happens when the mobile phones Wifi function is connected to something outside the walls??
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bubbs
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Discussion 9 : 05/02/2012 at 03:04 PM9
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abbub - If you don't want to do the time don't do the crime.
Why shouldn't prisoners be used as labour as long as it is done responsibily and prisoners are offered priviliges for work
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fungus
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Discussion 8 : 05/02/2012 at 03:03 PM8
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The better solution is to make sure the inmates only have the items they are allowed to have. Any tools that allow them to continue their trade is contraband. Not sure why this is so hard for the prison administrators to sort out.

As for tapping phones to track down dealer networks let the police take the lead on this. No one from the prisons need to be involved since they obviously can not handle the duties they have now.

Use any means possible to detect and bust the drug networks and follow the leads right up to the top dealers.
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fma
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Discussion 7 : 05/02/2012 at 01:41 PM7
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I am surprised that this is an issue at all. I believed (and still do) that all forms of communication within Thailand is heavily monitored.
In any case, the drug problem in Thailand needs to be addressed on several fronts. The tough line will not work alone, when corruption and double standards are the real controlling factors.
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siamitude
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Discussion 6 : 05/02/2012 at 11:52 AM6
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The problem is corruption among prison officials, not the inmates.
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abbub
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Discussion 5 : 05/02/2012 at 10:47 AM5
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SO why announce it to the world? Do it without informing everyone as is now down.

Anyway, treating prisoners badly and making them suffer and as isolated as possible may not be the answer to deter crime.

In countries where the emphasis is on rehabilitation and not punishment the rates of recidivism are far lower than in countries where punishment is the primary intention. Look at the US where prisoners are treated like animals for the most part. Now in the US private prisons are spraining up using prisoners as slave labor for private businesses. Prisons over-crowded & US has the highest number of people incarcerated in the world.

Compare that to Sweden where conjugal visits are allowed (as in other countries) and the emphasis is for a large part on rehabilitation.

Isolating prisoners completely from the outside world and normal human emotions will not create better people.
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fineguy
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Discussion 4 : 05/02/2012 at 08:44 AM4
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@Discussion 1:

I fully agree with you.
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