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A you-tube video from a surveillance camera at Suvarnabhumi airport has got a a high-ranking customs official in trouble for smacking the ears of a security officer.

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Footage from a surveillance camera at Suvarnabhumi airport shows a high-ranking customs official smacking the ears of a security officer at the airport after he was stopped for a body pat-down during a security check.

Click button to listen to Airport smack and rightclick to download

Customs official probed after assault at airport security

Wichit Chantanusornsiri 
Amornrat Mahithirook

A high-ranking customs official is being investigated for allegedly bashing a security officer about the ears after he refused to undergo a security check at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The official, Sombat Chartchaiwaiyawit, who is chief of passenger inspection at the airport, has been transferred following the incident, pending a probe for allegedly assaulting the security staff member, a customs official says.

Customs Department director-general Somchai Poolsavasdi confirmed Mr Sombat is being investigated.

The investigation was sparked by a video clip released on the YouTube website.

It contains footage from a surveillance camera that shows a man smacking the ears of a security officer at the airport after he was stopped for a body pat-down during a security check process.

Mr Somchai said the probe will be wrapped up in 30 days.

Mr Sombat has been shifted to the Bureau of Central Administration for the duration of the inquiry.

Mr Somchai said the incident made him uncomfortable as it tarnished the department's image, even if it does reflect just one individual's behaviour.

Mr Somchai said Mr Sombat faces disciplinary action by the Civil Service Commission if he is found to have behaved inappropriately.

"This is not about corruption," he said.

"I take this investigation seriously. But I have to be sure that he is treated fairly."

Mr Somchai said senior customs officials may enjoy certain conveniences at the airport but none are exempt from security examinations.

Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdipol said the airport's legal team will be asked if action should be taken against the official.

"It is a case of assault which may have a negative effect on the airport," he said.

Mr Somchai insisted all passengers are required to follow the Airports of Thailand's security checkpoint procedures and policies. Checkpoint protocols require passengers to remove outer coats and metal items for X-ray before proceeding through the metal detectors.

Additional screening is required if the metal detectors send an alarm.

Passengers who refuse to be screened are not allowed to enter restricted areas in the airport.

Suvarnabhumi airport deputy director Narongchai Thanatchangsaeng said the incident will not cause problems between the AoT and the Customs Department.

He said surveillance cameras were installed two years ago following passengers' complaints that their belongings had gone missing while they underwent security procedures.

Sirichai Maichum lodges a complaint with the police, alleging he received an ear injury during the incident. SUTHIWIT CHAYUTWORAKAN

Karn Thongyai, managing director of Asia Security Management – the firm contracted to provide security for Suvarnabhumi – said the security officer sustained an ear injury.

He said the man, identified as Sirichai Maichum, has lodged a complaint with police and the company will leave it to authorities to investigate. He said the customs official was subject to standard security procedures because he went through a passenger's security checkpoint.

Mr Karn said airport staff and cabin crew who have security clearance usually enter the restricted area via a special channel which imposes less strict security procedures.

Pol Col Natthanant Nanasombat, superintendent of Suvarnabhumi airport police station, said Mr Sombat has been summoned for questioning. He has seven days to report to police about the incident.

A police source said yesterday that Mr Sombat, accompanied by lawyers, had reported to investigators but refused to give a statement.

You can see the youtube clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN0an4lZ9bk&;

in hot water – in trouble
footage – film or video of a particular subject or event ฟิลม์หรือคลิปภาพยนตร์ หรือวิดีโอ
surveillance footage – video from a camera that is put in a place to constantly record what happens there – เทปวิดีโอจากกล้องวงจรปิดเพื่อรักษาการความปลอดภัย
high-ranking – senior; important ที่อยู่ชั้นสูง
customs (department) – a government department which checks and collects taxes on goods leaving or entering the country กรมศุลกากร
smack – to hit somebody with your open hand, usuallly making a loud noise and especially as a punishment ตบเสียงดัง, ตีนเสียงดัง
security – protection; systems providing for safety from attack, harm, or damage ระบบรักษาความปลอดภัย
pat-down – a security check where a security official uses his/her hands to check for metallic objects
probe – to investigate; to attempt to find out the truth about something; to examine ตรวจสอบ
assault – a physical attack on someone การทำร้าย
investigate – to try to find out the facts about something in order to learn the truth about it ตรวจสอบหาความจริง
allegedly – claimed to have done something wrong, but not yet proven ที่กล่าวหา
bash – to hit somebody/something very hard, usually causing damage ทุบให้พัง, ตีอย่างแรง
undergo – to experience something which is unpleasant or which involves a change ประสบ (เหตุการณ์ในด้านลบ)
inspection – an official process of checking that things are in the correct condition or that people are doing what they should การตรวจสอบตรวจตรา
transfer – moving someone or something from one place, vehicle, person or group to another การย้าย
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
pending – waiting to be dealt with, settled or completed ยังค้างอยู่, ซึ่งยังไม่จบสิ้น, อยู่ในระหว่าง
spark – to make something happen ก่อให้เกิด
release – to make known to the public เปิดเผย, ให้ข่าว, ปล่อยข่าว
wrap up – to finish  ทำให้เสร็จสิ้น
shift – to transfer; to change someone’s job or responsibilities โยกย้ายตำแหน่ง
duration – the period of time during which something continues to happen or exist ช่วงระยะเวลา, ความทนทาน
inquiry – an official examination of a problem, crime,  accident, etc. in order to get information or the truth การไต่สวนหาข้อเท็จจริง  การไต่สวน
tarnish – to spoil; to make people have a worse opinion of you than they did before ทำให้เสื่อมเสีย
image – an opinion that people have about someone or something ภาพลักษณ์
reflect – to show สะท้อน แสดงถึง
individual – a person considered separately rather than as part of a group บุคคล
behaviour – the way that someone acts or behaves พฤติกรรม, การกระทำตัว
disciplinary action – punishment of people who do not obey the rules  การลงโทษเนื่องจากการฝ่าฝืนวินัย หรือระเบียบ
civil service – the government departments responsible for putting central government plans into action ราชการพลเรือน.
commission – an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control something, or to find out about something, usually for the government  คณะกรรมการ, คณะกรรมาธิการ
inappropriate – unsuitable ซึ่งไม่เหมาะสม
convenience – something that is useful and can make things easier or quicker to do, or more comfortable ความสะดวก
exempt – not affected by something ได้รับการยกเว้น
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
negative – bad ที่เป็นด้านลบ
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
procedure – a way of doing something  ขั้นตอนการดำเนินการ
policy – a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย
protocol – a system of fixed rules and formal behaviour ระเบียบการ
proceed – to carry out an activity ดำเนินการ
metal detector – an electronic machine that is used, for example at an airport, to see if people are hiding metal objects such as weapons เครื่องตรวจหาโลหะ
screening – the testing or examining of a large number of people or things for disease, faults, illegal objects, etc การตรวจ
alarm – a piece of electrical equipment that warns you of danger, especially by making a loud noise  สัญญาณเตือนภัย
refuse – to say you will not do something that someone has asked you to do ปฏิเสธ
restricted – intended only for people who have been given special permission ที่จำกัด
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
surveillance camera – a camera kept in a place to record what happens there, especially criminal activity กล้องวงจรปิดเพื่อรักษาการความปลอดภัย
complaint – when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
belongings – the things you own ข้าวของเครื่องใช้
lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim  ยื่น (คำร้อง)
injury – physical damage done to a person or a part of their body อาการบาดเจ็บ
firm – a business or company บริษัท
contract – to hire people or companies to do work for another person, organisation, company, etc
sustain – to experience, injury, damage, loss, etc. ประสบกับ (ความสูญเสีย การเจ็บป่วย)
identify – to specify who someone is  ระบุชื่อ
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
subject to – affected by ภายใต้บังคับ (กฎหมาย)
standard – average or normal rather than having special or unusual features ซึ่งเป็นมาตรฐาน
crew – the people who work on a ship, aircraft, etc. ลูกเรือ
impose – to force someone to accept something กำหนด,บังคับ
strict – very careful and exact เข้มงวด
superintendent – a senior police officer เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจระดับสูง
summon – to officially order someone to come to a place  เรียกตัว
accompany – to go with someone ไปกับ,ไปด้วยกัน,ไปเป็นเพื่อน

Related search: Custom official assaults airport security officer, Sombat Chartchaiwaiyawit