Whenever police scandals hit the headlines, the people have expected the Prayut Chan-o-cha government to act decisively in clearing those messes. Yet they seldom do.
The latest disappointment is the reaction of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to those shenanigans. When asked this week about an allegation that a border patrol police commander demanded monthly payments from his subordinates, the DPM merely said the wrongdoing was a "personal matter," rather than systemic graft.
The general gave defeatist comments: "What shall I do? I have repeatedly told them [not to do bad deeds] but people have different ideas."
According to the unsigned complaint, the commander demanded the chiefs of 16 police companies and four subdivisions bring 10,000-50,000 baht each to the BPP's monthly meetings to avoid punishment.
The complainant added the commander claimed he has close ties with top-ranking police and a deputy prime minister.
The RTP promises to probe the matter in less than a week.
Gen Prawit's defeatist statement indicates he has chosen to protect the officers, rather than weeding out bad police. Although Gen Prawit may argue that he has no jurisdiction over police affairs, he still has dominant power over the agency. Apart from that, he has been assigned to oversee a panel to probe migrant smuggling rings linked to the new coronavirus outbreak.
It's high time the government stop foot dragging over its pledge to reform the police.
Its reluctance to embark on reforms may have something to do with fears it could lose its power base and other interests including ill-gotten gains.
However, the fact is that graft by some police, including those who involved themselves in illegal migrant smuggling, has resulted in the new outbreak of the virus which has gravely damaged society. It's reported that the other panel assigned to probe gambling dens has been flooded with information about more than 140 illegal venues that are known as a source of dirty money for some officers who use the cash to buy positions in the RTP.
Another scandal involved several police attached to Chok Chai station in Nakhon Ratchasima, who are accused of having a hand in the transport of illegal slot machines from Rayong to a Khon Kaen warehouse.
It's reported that that those machines belong to a local influential gambling den operator in Rayong whose illicit businesses led to the transfer of police in Rayong and other eastern provinces.
This influential person is said to have strong connections with people in the government which explains why he dared challenge the law by having the machines removed.
RTP chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk has argued previously that it's not easy for police to arrest anyone in the gambling business given that few, if any, would be prepared to serve as witnesses. But this is not the case. Now that there is ample evidence, it's not too difficult for the government and the police chief to expand the probe, dig to the bottom of this affair, and get the bad guys. That is, of course, if they are really prepared to take the matter seriously.
This string of scandals has depleted public trust, not only in the RTP but in the government. It's time for action, not lip service.