A rogue cop with a playing addiction was sentenced to 270 years in prison for theft and unlawful possession of a hundred and sixty firearms. He will solely serve 50 years as allowed under Thai legislation.
Senior sergeant main Chaowarit Phumkajorn, from Pak Kret Police Station in Nonthaburi province, close to Bangkok, was arrested in October within the Isaan province of Nong Khai after reportedly promoting one hundred sixty police guns to pay off his gambling debts. The investigation concluded yesterday, with 23 suspects arrested and charged for receiving stolen goods, whereas eight senior officers are set to be punished for dereliction of duty, reported Bangkok Post.
Deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, said the rogue cop’s arrest led to the arrests of 23 others who pawned, bought or purchased the guns. Most have been safety guards for playing dens and the gamblers themselves. Big Joke said…
“Eight police will be punished for dereliction of responsibility. Marked down range from former station chiefs who served between 2014-2022 to active inspectors. A committee has been set up to handle the disciplinary investigation.
“As for the stolen firearms, police managed to retrieve sixty four but 96 remain unaccounted for. Police imagine they had been sold in neighbouring nations.
“Sixty-three guns are in the state’s stock, with one returned to an area station.
“The 2,200-page report shall be submitted to the Office of the Attorney General, which is ready to pursue authorized motion towards the 23 suspects.”
Rogue cop Chaowarit Phumkajorn
The rogue cop was arrested as he tried to flee a resort in the Mueng Mhee district of Nong Khai province. He had no weapons on him, solely a backpack.
Arresting officers revealed they caught the suspect as he waited for a brand new passport to be processed for a planned to flee to a neighbouring nation.
The Deputy Commander of the Provincial Police Region 1, Phananchai Chuenjaitham, reported that Chaowarit was in charge of gun disbursement at Pak Kret Police Station, making it easier for him to steal weapons.
Chaowarit amassed a huge gambling debt and to pay it off he stole guns and sold them to random folks, gambling pals, and pawnshops for about 20,000 baht each. It was discovered he had been stealing weapons for greater than 5 years.
Senior officers didn’t detect any wrongdoing because the rogue cop coated his tracks, stealing only one or two guns at a time. He created faux paperwork which revealed that the guns had been allocated to officers on obligation..