Big Oud hits out at Big Joke: Don't knock my biometrics system for your own personal problems

[webfact]

Big Oud hits out at Big Joke: Don't knock my biometrics system for your own personal problems

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Immigration chief Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang has gone on the attack against former bureau chief Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn who claimed that corruption in the procurement of the IB's biometrics system was behind the shooting of his car on Monday. 

 

In strong language the chief known in the Thai press as Big Oud slammed his predecessor for blaming the 2 billion baht system and even took aim at the self-styled Big Joke for trying to divert attention away from his own personal problems, reported Daily News. 

 

In modern parlance he accused him of virtue signalling, notes Thaivisa. 

 

And another leading policeman key in the procurement of the system has defended his role and said he has a clear record and is open to any corruption investigation. Pol Maj-Gen Surapong Chaijan also defended the system and the role of RTP chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda who Big Joke has questioned about his involvement.

 

Big Joke rose to prominence through 2018 and early last year as deputy commander of the tourist police then chief of immigration but was abruptly removed from his leading role in April of last year and given a largely clerical position as special adviser in the PM's office. 

 

Speculation was rife that he had annoyed others in the RTP with his crusading. Following his removal Surachate kept a low profile for the rest of the year but Monday's shooting changed all that. 

 

Eight shots were fired at his Lexus car while he was inside an establishment allegedly having a massage. The perpetrators have yet to be caught and Big Joke has criticized the force for foot dragging, notes Thaivisa.

 

At immigration HQ in Suan Phlu in Bangkok yesterday the top brass went on the attack about biometrics - and they had experts to back them up as the press took in the latest developments in the story at the top of the news in Thailand.

 

Lt-Gen Sompong praised the biometrics system as efficient and hit out at Surachate for suggesting it was not saying that he did not know where his predecessor got his information from.

 

The biometrics system was described as state-of-the art and of an international standard that other countries would aspire to have. Immigration was the window to Thailand that was responsible for the security of the nation and its role was respected by tourists, he said. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

It was value for money and was signed off by RTP chief Chakthip. He said that Surachate should not blame the system for his own personal troubles and be self-righteous about himself. 

 

Maj-Gen Surapong defended his 33 year career in the RTP saying he had never been involved in any corruption and his role in the procurement of the scheme was open to any scrutiny that was decided. 

 

His comments revealed that he felt he was under personal attack, notes Thaivisa.

 

Surapong was deputy of the committee that looked into the biometrics system. He said that his position on the committee was one of a neutral observer as he was not part of the Immigration Bureau at the time. 

 

He outlined some of the key points in the development and setting up of the system saying that it was first mooted back in July of 2017. He admitted to problems and delays but up until January 7th of this year it had proved its worth. 

 

A large vinyl board gave details of that worth suggesting that 48,862,051 travellers in and out of Thailand had been checked. The system had identified 4,353 people on blacklists and watchlists, 126,989 on over stay in the kingdom and 3,166 on what was described as the "bio system". 

 

In big red letters as if to stress its worth it stated that 242,888,800 baht had been collected in fines. 

 

Surapong stated that in his personal opinion Surachate's problems were not connected to biometrics and that the technology police were welcome to come in and do a full investigation. He said that Surachate's comments were not fair to Chakthip. 

 

Digital tech expert Dr Asit Anyapho and Pol Col Cherngron Rimphadee, in charge of airport security, also voiced their support for the system. Asit said there had been problems in its implementation especially in connecting the system fully but these were being resolved. 

 

Cherngron said that it was a useful tool that had enhanced the capabilities of immigration officers at borders. 

 

Thaivisa notes that the press conference may be described in some quarters as a "circling of the wagons" after the comments made by Big Joke. It follows months of stories in Naew Na - a media sympathetic to immigration -  in which the biometrics system was hailed as a great success. 

 

Like him or loathe him the charismatic policeman's opinions still hold strong sway in the press and Thai public and Monday's shooting - both described as just a threat and an assassination attempt - has only served to stoke the fires regarding his views and his removal from power. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-10

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[smutcakes]

Wonder where the 242 million in fines is? Can someone ask to see the books and bank accounts.

[ezzra]

The clash of the titans... the two 'Big', let them duke it out in a good ol' fashion of gun slinging duel...

[RotBenz8888]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

In big red letters as if to stress its worth it stated that 242,888,800 baht had been collected in fines. 

 

Wow, haven't the Shinawatras invested in this system, it's like Vegas machines!

[worgeordie]

8 gun shots into his car,a warning, shut up or

the next ones will be going into you.

regards worgeordie

[ChipButty]

And the show goes on

[TheDutchEngineer]

Stop using vinyl boards and invest in a beamer. 

 

And what is the relationship between overstay and biometrics?

Big Joke was doing well with catching overstayers without the biometrics system.

Edited January 10, 2020 by TheDutchEngineer

[colinneil]

So Big Oud is pis++d at Big Joke, can he not see that all Big Joke wants is to be the number 1 poster boy again, he is tired of pushing papers around on a desk, no glory in that.????

[Somtamnication]

Someone needs a hug!

[AhFarangJa]

Oh Dear, Oh Dear, The Children are squabbling in the yard.

It will be handbags at dawn next. I expect the vinyl poster contract is up for renewal.......

[scorecard]

14 minutes ago, colinneil said:

So Big Oud is pis++d at Big Joke, can he not see that all Big Joke wants is to be the number 1 poster boy again, he is tired of pushing papers around on a desk, no glory in that.????

So are you suggesting that Big Joke fired on his own car to garner some media attention?

[No1]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A large vinyl board gave details of that worth suggesting that 48,862,051 travellers in and out of Thailand had been checked. The system had identified 4,353 people on blacklists and watchlists, 126,989 on over stay in the kingdom and 3,166 on what was described as the "bio system". 

 

In big red letters as if to stress its worth it stated that 242,888,800 baht had been collected in fines. 

 

Question is only if this was owed to biometrics or if those fines would have been collected anyway in the same manner as before when leaving the country. No biometrics needed for that.

 

 

[lemonjelly]

Value for money, they bought a fleet of BMW and fitted biometric cameras to the roofs.... apparently Toyota weren’t good enough for kickbacks I presume.

[seajae]

after seeing all the other corruption and back handers paid the the top dogs in the procurement of anything in Thailand I wouldnt be surprised if surachate is spot on with his claim, we all are aware of the graft and corruption being rife here in Thailand especially with anything to do with govt contracts etc

[monkfish]

So is this why BJ lost his job and promoted to PM's adviser?

[ParkerN]

Well, bearing in mind where we are and who the people are and what the culture is, I'd b amazed if there were not corruption lurking under every stone.

 

Methinks he doth protest too much, but it gives an interesting insight into the who'd and why's of Big Jokes eclipse, does it not?

 

'*My* biometric system'... with the system also comes the corruption, which he is presumably also happy to own the responsibility for... These people really seem to believe the axe is not being sharpened. Perpahs the unemployment numbers will take a large boost over the next few years.

 

[BobbyL]

Maj-Gen Surapong defended his 33 year career in the RTP saying he had never been involved in any corruption

 

How did this make it past the fake news panel? Have his bank accounts and assets been checked to see if they correlate with his income and savings etc? 

[rkidlad]

Painful to think these morons are in control of anything; let alone a police and immigration force. 

 

 

[Hayduke]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Big Oud hits out at Big Joke: Don't knock my biometrics system for your own personal problems

 

Translation: "You're just <deleted> because I cut you out of the deal...and took those hundreds of millions in commissions for myself."

 

 

Edited January 10, 2020 by Hayduke

[ThomasThBKK]

I kinda like BJ, i think thailand is worse off without him.

 

That's prolly why he had to go.

[rkidlad]

2 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

I kinda like BJ, i think thailand is worse off without him.

 

That's prolly why he had to go.

Yes, he was a marvelous attention whore who climbed the ranks way too quickly because of his close ties to a deputy PM who is clearly corrupt.  Driving around in a nice Lexus with his body guards going off for hand shandies in knocking shops. I guess he just invested his salary well. 

[BobbyL]

2 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Yes, he was a marvelous attention whore who climbed the ranks way too quickly because of his close ties to a deputy PM who is clearly corrupt.  Driving around in a nice Lexus with his body guards going off for hand shandies in knocking shops. I guess he just invested his salary well. 

????

[KhunKenAP]

Perhaps the reason(s) behind why Big Joke lost his job may come out during this pis..ng contest.

 

 

[CGW]

7 minutes ago, KhunKenAP said:

Perhaps the reason(s) behind why Big Joke lost his job may come out during this pis..ng contest.

No they won't! 

[sammieuk1]

B.O & B.J the muddy waters are clearing as the lardy general popped up yesterday claiming to know nothing Big odious with more vinyl than plastic bags Big Joke with an expensive car full of holes and insults of corruption flying the question is who was bang at it and how much have they got away with Mlud????   

[Neeranam]

19 minutes ago, KhunKenAP said:

Perhaps the reason(s) behind why Big Joke lost his job may come out during this pis..ng contest.

 

 

Everybody knows already, well certainly all Thai people.

By the way Khun is a term out respect given by others. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Maj-Gen Surapong defended his 33 year career in the RTP saying he had never been involved in any corruption

 Being in the RTP, is that even humanly possible?  I don't think so!

 

Of course, I guess it also depends on how exactly any RTP official defines "corruption," since I'm sure they have their own unique view on that subject.

 

 

Edited January 10, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[rkidlad]

6 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Everybody knows already, well certainly all Thai people.

By the way Khun is a term out respect given by others. 

Yes, 'all' Thai people know. They are enlightened unlike those heathen farang who are not privy to the corrupt goings on of such a complex and unique culture. 

[LivinLOS]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

mmigration was the window to Thailand that was responsible for the security of the nation and its role was respected by tourists, he said. 

????????????

[ThomasThBKK]

38 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Yes, he was a marvelous attention whore who climbed the ranks way too quickly because of his close ties to a deputy PM who is clearly corrupt.  Driving around in a nice Lexus with his body guards going off for hand shandies in knocking shops. I guess he just invested his salary well. 

Wow a leased Lexus. I can't even fathom how mighty rich he must be.????