BSA Law Applauds Halt To 'Harassment' Searches Of Foreigners In Thai Capital

Police in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area have been ordered to halt any searches of foreign nationals without due process, following mounting concerns of harassment by some Thai law officials. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) March 10, 2015 - Bangkok - Newly-appointed Thong Lor police superintendent Pol Col Khajohnpong Jitpakpoom has said that unless a foreigner is acting suspiciously, his officers are prohibited from carrying out a random search on that person.

Pol Col Khajohnpong told the Bangkok Post Sunday he had instructed police under his command to strictly refrain from searching foreigners or asking to see their passports unless necessary.

In the case a search is considered necessary - if a person appears to be drunk or high, seems 'startled' by the presence of police or is otherwise acting suspiciously - then the search must be conducted in a public area under the supervision of two officers with the rank of sub-lieutenant or higher.

"But if the person sees an officer and appears to be calm, then we are not allowed to conduct a search" Pol Col Khajohnpong was quoted as saying.

He added that patrol officers are not allowed to carry drug testing kits, and the collection of urine samples for drug testing can only be conducted at a police station. If a test produces a positive result, a second test will be conducted at a state hospital.

The curb on police searches follows concern over a notable surge in random stop-and-search incidents which appeared to be targeting foreigners on Sukhumvit Road, one of Bangkok's main tourist and commercial arteries. Many foreigners complained they had been searched without any reasonable suspicion. A number of complaints were linked to officers stationed at Thong Lor police station on Thong Lor Road.

"This will go a long way toward repairing the relationship between the foreign community in Bangkok and the city's police and Thai law officials, which has been strained over claims of harassment", said BSA Law spokesman Apisakdi Kongkangwanchoke.

A leading law firm in Thailand, BSA Law provides various legal services and advice to foreigners and Thais. This includes Thai labour law issues and Thai law in general, Thailand work permit and visa processes, accounting, auditing and tax consulting, investment advice and guidance on starting a business in Thailand.

About BSA Law:
For over 30 years, Bamrung Suvicha Apisakdi Law Associates (BSA Law) has focused on providing reliable legal advice and services to the Thai and foreign business community in Thailand. BSA Law seeks to provide international standards of legal services while retaining the customs of the Thai business culture.

http://www.bsalaw.co.th

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