A Bangkok police officer has been transferred to an “inactive post” after a video surfaced of him demanding a bribe from a Japanese driver. The side-lining of a policeman is the standard response during an investigation in Thailand.
The video, believed to have been filmed in 2019, is currently getting a lot of response on Thai social media. You can watch the video on X HERE.
The footage was taken from inside a car being driven by a Japanese YouTuber and shows him being stopped by the traffic officer, who proceeds to issue him with a ticket.
When the officer hands him the ticket, the Japanese man tells him he can’t understand it as it’s written in Thai. He then asks where he can go to pay the fine or if it’s possible to pay it there and then.
At this point, the officer is heard responding that he can pay it there and then. The driver goes to hand over a 500 baht note when the officer says in English, “put under, put under”, seemingly referring to the ticket the driver is holding and asking him to conceal the money under it as he hands it over.
The Japanese man can then be seen placing the money under the ticket and handing it to the police officer. He then drives away.
“This only happens in Thailand, definitely not in Japan.”
It turns out the man is a famous You Tuber who was travelling around Thailand making content for his channel. His X post has attracted more than 1 million views.
Yesterday, Thiti Sangsawang, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, confirmed the officer has been transferred after a complaint was filed against him at Tha Rua Police Station.
Thiti says the officer was a sergeant at the time the footage was filmed and is now a lieutenant. He says he has spoken to the officer, who is having memory problems.
“The officer said he did not remember much about the incident and requested more time to review the details.”
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
