Nausea and corruption in Siam-land

He’s stripped of his rank, so we shall call Thitisant Uttanapol by his other nickname, Joe Ferrari.

Joe Ferrari phoned into the police press conference last night and it became a heartfelt episode of:

“Thank you, boss, for this personal platform to make excuses to the public.”

He admitted what he did was wrong, but his intention was noble:

“I want to get the information to destroy the drugs that are destroying the people of Nakorn Sawan.”

“I did it for the Thai people, so children don’t grow up to become junkies.”

“Did it” took six layers of black plastic bags, choking, punching, and kneeing, and a lie in the coroner report that said the suspect died of methamphetamine.

Still, Joe Ferrari continued the hero card, saying he’s the only one to blame, not his subordinates. Translation: Don’t turn state witness against me.

After all, he already thought he had destroyed evidence. After the incident on 6 August, he ordered the CCTV footage deleted. Except, he forgot one. Put that together with the reason why he ran away, and this was his reply:

“I just panicked. I’m young and inexperienced.”

How did someone young and inexperienced become police chief? It’s the patronage system, and Joe Ferrari is an excellent earner for the bosses (just like in the mafia).

According to the Bangkok Post, during 2011-2017, Joe Ferrari confiscated 368 smuggled fancy cars.

The Custom Departments auctioned 363 cars for about one billion baht.

Here’s how systematic corruption works:

Regulations give 30% of the value to informers and 25% to arresting officers. So, theoretically, that’s a cool 250 million for Joe Ferrari. But, here’s another stinker: Some media say it was Joe Ferrari who smuggled in the cars.

It’s a system for public servants to make money. Obviously, Joe Ferrari isn’t a one-man show. There’s a patronage network of mafioso in uniform. Everyone gets a little taste (just like in the mafia.)

Of course, an excellent earner such as Joe Ferrari would be promoted to underboss, as in a police chief in Nakorn Sawan. Of course, he would continue to earn.

However, Joe Ferrari told the media, “Since I became a public servant, I have never corrupted.”