Transport body takes exception to ‘misleading’ police report on bribes

The freak accident that led to the collapse of a section of Sukhumvit Soi 64/1, making the road unusable for hours on November 8, resulted in injuries to two bikers. There was widespread public criticism that the truck was likely carrying load in excess of the legal limit.

Speculation mounted that a bribe had been paid after the truck was found to carry a star-shaped green sticker with the letter “B” in the centre, similar to those found used earlier this year in a long-running racket that allowed overloaded trucks to avoid police checks.

National Police chief Pol General Torsak Sukwimol had tasked the Office of Inspector-General with investigating whether any police officers had taken bribes from the truck owner.

The office reported on Tuesday that it had found no evidence of bribes being paid to officers stationed in areas under the jurisdiction of Phra Khanong Police Station where the accident took place.

While announcing the investigation result, Pol Colonel Wittawat Chinkam, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 5, added that the LTFT had notified police that it had never received complaints regarding a star-shaped green sticker with the letter “B” in the centre.

“The police statement could create a misunderstanding that the federation has confirmed such a sticker is not related to the bribe racket,” the land transport federation said in its statement on Wednesday.

“In fact, the federation has reported to officials that it had received several complaints regarding the selling of such stickers to allow overloaded trucks to pass through any checkpoint in Thailand. The sales are also linked to several related agencies,” the statement said.

The federation added that the green sticker was used to allow illegal trucks, such as those carrying excessive weight, running during prohibited hours, or committing other offences related to the vehicle itself, like having illegal headlights, to pass through police checks.

“The fact that no one has directly filed complaints to the police does not mean that the bribe sticker [corruption] is not real,” the federation said. “The bribe racket is real and still present in Thailand, both in the form of sticker and via Line messaging.”

The federation was referring to the sending of messages via mobile phones to inform officials at checkpoints about which trucks had already paid the bribe.

“The LTFT can only give preliminary information. It is the police’s responsibility to uncover evidence and in-depth details of the case,” the statement said.