A Royal Thai Police inspector-general spent about five hours reviewing the records of Chonburi Immigration Office as part of a national investigation into corruption inside the division.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Naiyawat Phadermchit, Region 2 inspection commissioner in the Office of the Inspector-General, met with Chonburi Superintendent Pol. Col. Prapansak Prasarnsuk and his top lieutenants at the Jomtien Beach office Sept. 16.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Naiyawat Phadermchit, Region 2 inspection commissioner in the Office of the Inspector-General, found no improprieties at the Chonburi Immigration Office.
Naiyawat’s visit was one of many being made to regional immigration offices after national police chief, Pol. Gen. Somyot Pumpunmuang, ordered an immediate inquiry into six corrupt practices he claimed are commonly carried out by border agents employed by the Immigration Police Bureau.
Among the offenses being investigated are agents accepting bribes to extend stays unlawfully; 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.
Naiyawat specifically examined records related to extension of stays by those on non-immigrant visas. The examination took about five hours and the commissioner said an initial review found no improprieties.
The national review will continue and the final report was expected to be delivered to Somyot Sept. 30.
