BANGKOK — Immigration police officers, especially those in Chonburi, have been embarrassed after a video clip of a Korean man using his phone to livestream himself from inside a detention room and a prisoner transport vehicle was shared on social media.
On October 17, Police Major General Choengron Rimpadee, spokesperson for the Immigration Bureau, revealed that the bureau had ordered the Chonburi Immigration Police Commander to investigate the facts.
The preliminary investigation report states that Mr. Seo, 44, a Korean national wanted by Korean authorities for drug-related charges, was involved.
Seo was arrested on October 3, 2024, by Chonburi Immigration investigation officers in collaboration with the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) officers. He was charged with “being a foreigner entering and staying in the Kingdom after his permission had expired for more than 373 days” and was prosecuted according to the law.
Subsequently, the Pattaya District Court sentenced him for “being a foreigner entering and staying in the Kingdom after his permission had expired,” with a fine of 3,000 baht and a suspended prison sentence. He was to be deported from Thailand.
During this time, Chonburi Immigration detained Seo at Bang Lamung Police Station, Chonburi Province, to transfer him to the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok for deportation.
The video clip of the suspect using a phone was found to be taken in the detention room at Bang Lamung Police Station and in the vehicle while being transferred to the Detention Center in Bangkok on October 15, 2024. Police Lieutenant Pramote Fuangfung, Deputy Inspector of Chonburi Immigration, and Police Sergeant Arthit Thongbai, Squad Leader of Chonburi Immigration, were in charge of the transfer.
Police Major General Choengron explained that even though foreign detainees have been sentenced and served their punishment, they must still be considered as persons under control according to the Criminal Procedure Code and tactical security standards during the control of suspects or persons of interest.
This case is particularly sensitive as the individual is wanted by South Korea on drug-related arrest warrants and could potentially escape during transfer by using a phone to coordinate. The appearance of such images indicates that the controlling officers were not thorough in their search.
Currently, the Chonburi Immigration Police Commander has ordered both immigration officers to cease their duties and transfer to the Chonburi Immigration Police Operations Center. A disciplinary investigation committee has been set up to impose strict disciplinary punishment.
Seo has an arrest warrant in South Korea for conspiring with others to send drugs from Thailand to South Korea. He allegedly sent 38.46 grams of ice (methamphetamine) hidden in coffee and nut bags via air parcel on December 10, 2023. Korean authorities intercepted this parcel in Korea and issued an arrest warrant for him.
Police Colonel Naphatphong Khositsuriyanmanee, Commander of Chonburi Immigration, stated that this incident was a mistake by officers who failed to conduct a thorough inspection. It’s possible that the suspect hid the phone on his body.
Regarding the clip that the suspect recorded in the detention room, Bang Lamung Police Station will investigate how the suspect managed to bring the phone inside and will proceed with further steps accordingly.
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