Interior Ministry Orders Probe Into Thalang Checkpoint Bribery Allegations
The Interior Ministry has ordered an urgent investigation into bribery allegations against officers at a Thalang checkpoint in Phuket, with authorities instructed to submit findings to the central ministry and face strict legal action if mi
Interior Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Worasit Liangprasert has ordered an urgent investigation into allegations that officers at a checkpoint in Thalang district, Phuket, demanded money from detainees in exchange for release. He emphasized that all parties must receive fair treatment and instructed authorities to submit progress reports to the central ministry. If officials are found to have committed misconduct, they will face strict legal action.
The complaint concerns the conduct of an operational team in Thalang district and was made public on September 16. On September 17, Deputy Permanent Secretary Liangprasert instructed the Department of Local Administration and Phuket Province to investigate the facts quickly, examining the incident, all persons involved, officer conduct, and all evidence and surrounding information to establish clear, verifiable facts.
He also ordered Phuket's governor to clarify the situation and urgently report progress to the Interior Ministry so the central government can closely monitor the investigation. Allegations must be separated from facts, investigations must be evidence-based, and all parties must be treated fairly. When complaints reach public attention, agencies must urgently provide answers and resolve lingering doubts.
According to Liangprasert, Thalang district has already examined information about the officers shown online and ordered a factual report to be prepared, with a fact-checking committee appointed to report results to the province today and the Interior Ministry as soon as possible.
Authorities have also been instructed to expand their investigation to other complaints or leads of a similar nature in Phuket Province, not limited to the current case, to identify any pending complaints or information requiring further investigation and proceed through proper legal channels.
Liangprasert stated that the key objective is to provide the public with answers based on facts, not allegations. If misconduct is found, it will be handled strictly regardless of the officer's rank. If no wrongdoing is found, the facts must be disclosed to ensure fairness for those accused and restore public confidence in local administration. The matter must be clarified; complaints must be investigated; the province must establish facts and report promptly to the ministry; and if misconduct is found, it must be handled strictly—all based on facts and evidence, with fairness for all parties.
