Police uncover no corruption in road collapse
An investigation has revealed no evidence of bribes being paid in the case of a truck allegedly causing a portion of Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road to collapse last week, the Royal Thai Police (RTP)’s Office of Inspector General announced on Monday.
On Wednesday (November 8), concrete slabs placed across the road at the entrance to Sukhumvit Soi 64/1 collapsed under the weight of the truck, which was transporting dirt from a construction site. Two motorbike riders crashed during the incident and needed hospital treatment for their injuries.
The slabs had been placed across a section of the road where workers were laying underground power lines.
The public speculated that a bribe had been paid after noting that the truck had a star-shaped sticker with the letter “B” in the centre, similar to those used earlier this year in a long-running racket that allowed overloaded trucks to avoid police checks.
RTP chief Pol General Torsak Sukwimol therefore ordered an immediate investigation with the results reported in 3 days. The investigation reportedly aimed to find out whether any police officers had taken bribes from the truck owner.
The office said on Monday that it had inspected all police units under the jurisdiction of Phra Khanong station, which is responsible for the area where the accident took place. It found no evidence of police officers taking bribes.
The office added that checking the truck’s weight is the responsibility of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
After meeting with the police last Friday, Phacharaphol Jantharinthrakorn, the owner of the truck, also denied paying bribes to the police, adding that he put the sticker on the truck to show ownership, and that the “B” stands for his nickname “Big”.
