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Andrew Drummond

THE VARD CORRUPTION SCANDAL – ‘THANK YOU THAI POLICE’


The following message has been received from Jesse Vard on
behalf of her father. Its early days and they family seem now more confident
that at least some heads will role. They remain however in some contempt for
the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Irish Consulate in Bangkok.

Children’s author and former Dublin businessman Colin Vard, father to Jesssie, 16, and Daire, 13, was robbed of seven properties on the island of Phuket, effectively cleaned out of everything by a mix of bent lawyers, a bent judicial system, bent bankers, rogue money lenders, bent police and their housekeeper. 
This week they took their protests to the streets outside Bangkok Police headquarters, after five years of banging on doors that never opened. The scam was originally exposed on this site five years ago.
It seems they have a result, but of course time will tell, and if this goes into the normal legal system…well.
Vard with the RTP top echelon dream team

My dad would like to say something.

It is easy to criticize. Harder to be humble and that is how
we feel today. Humbled by the support and kindness of the Thai people. It is
impossible not to be encouraged by so many young voices supporting us and
demanding an end to corruption. While our Government and embassy abandoned us
the Thai people have taken us to their hearts. Something we had no right to
expect.
 

Thank you.

“While I have spoken openly of the corrupt police in Phuket I
have to say that over the past three days I have sat and spoken with the three
most important policemen in Thailand namely; Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Somyot
Poonpanmoung, Pol Maj Gen Kokiat Wongvorachart and Pol Maj Gen Dr Prawut
Thavornsiri and I believe that they are decent and honest policemen. Every
conversation was cordial and productive. Where in the world under the
circumstances would this happen especially after we disrupted the center of
Bangkok on Tuesday?
 

In my country we would be in a prison cell now facing
police charges.
 

Instead we were taken to meet with Commissioner Pol Maj Gen
Somyot Poonpanmoung who listened to what we had to say, expressed his concern
and issued instructions that our cases were to be investigated immediately and
an experienced detective task force was to be set up.
 

The situation now is that Pol Maj Gen Kokiat Wongvorachart
reviews our cases every morning with four Interpol detectives under the
leadership of Pol.Lt.Col.Chai Sanguansin who has assured me, and I believe him,
that he and his staff will investigate thoroughly and that everybody guilty
will be punished.
 

Investigation begins

While we have been ignored by our embassy and government,
Pol Maj Gen Kokiat Wongvorachart ordered six Phuket police officers to fly to
Bangkok over night to file and complete the outstanding police reports under
the supervision of Pol Col Werawat Chantarawijit the Phuket Deputy Commander
who also assured me today that my cases will be investigated thoroughly.
 

Deputy Commander Pol Col Werawat Chantarawijit in Phuket
will co-ordinate with Pol Lt Col Chai Sanguansin from Interpol and the Ministry
of Justice’s senior lawyer Khun James in Bangkok to insure that the corrupt
police, lawyers, banks, money lenders and land office officials are
investigated, charged and justice is served.
 

After working with them for two days I have to say that this
is one team I would not like to come up against.
 

Our sincere thanks to you the kind and caring Thai people
and the Royal Thai Police for acting so quickly and decisively.”

Irish Consular official did not even know that the Vards were no longer living in Phuket – says Colin Vard

About the Author

Andrew Drummond

Andrew Drummond is a British independent journalist and occasional television documentary maker. He is a former Fleet Street, London, journalist having worked at the Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, News of the World, Observer and The Times.

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