FRG
The Lao authorities has fired a high-ranking police officer in southern Savannakhet province for allegedly underreporting drug seizures and promoting the remaining for private revenue, however has not charged him with a legal offence, officers stated. .
On January 25, the Ministry of Public Safety Laos introduced that it had fired a lieutenant colonel from the Savannakhet Provincial Police Division and disciplined 4 of his subordinates for having submitted seizures of methamphetamines and different medication, and handled the excess.
The uncommon removing of a prime police officer made waves in impoverished Laos, the place corruption is rampant and authorities officers take pleasure in near-total immunity from legal acts.
However members of the general public had been offended that the disciplined cops – like many different officers accused of corruption – weren’t confronted.
They advised RFA Lao that individuals in positions of authority who break the legislation must be criminally charged, like every other particular person, somewhat than given a slap on the wrist.
“If [officials] violate the legislation … they need to not solely be fired, but in addition charged with a legal offense and imprisoned if they’re discovered responsible,” stated one citizen. “Simply because they’ve energy, it doesn’t imply that they’re immune from justice. Everybody must be handled equally underneath the identical legal guidelines.”
A provincial official confirmed the disciplinary motion in an interview with RFA on Wednesday.
“The Ministry of Public Safety dismissed the pinnacle of a police unit who’s a lieutenant colonel, and disciplined 4 subordinate cops – demoting and relocating,” stated the official who, like different interviewees for this report, he spoke on situation of anonymity citing safety considerations.
A police officer who labored with the 5 additionally confirmed their punishment in feedback made to RFA.
“Solely the pinnacle of the police unit has been fired,” he stated. “The opposite 4 are nonetheless working for the provincial police division, however have been demoted and transferred to different positions.”
The official stated the lieutenant colonel “was not charged with a legal offense” as a result of “being fired is probably the most extreme punishment” he might obtain.
He stated that the general public safety officers of the central authorities traveled to Savannakhet to personally supervise the disciplinary course of.
A drop within the rating
Failure to carry officers accountable for corruption is an sadly widespread observe in Laos.
In 2022, RFA reported that the Ministry of Public Safety disciplined 11 cops by eradicating and transferring them to the Police Division of the capital Vientiane for allegedly accepting bail cash and bribes from defendants and prisoners.
An analogous case occurred in 2021, when the ministry fired two cops – a captain and a lieutenant – who had been stated to have participated within the smuggling of products, unlawful playing, and permitting foreigners to enter within the nation with no visa.
Not one of the officers had been ever charged for his or her alleged crimes.
In his index 2023, launched on January 30, the graft watchdog Transparency Worldwide ranked Laos 136th out of 180 nations by way of the notion of corruption, up from 126th a yr earlier. The rating put Laos on par with Gabon, Mali and Paraguay.
Final yr, the Lao State Inspection Authority stated it had recognized 9 corrupt officers answerable for embezzling US$36 million in state funds. From 2021 to 2022, it stated that 74 officers had dedicated monetary crimes, resulting in a lack of $52 million.
The official numbers are in all probability a drop within the bucket in comparison with what the state truly loses to graft on an annual foundation.
A part of the issue, observers say, is that the central authorities just isn’t doing sufficient to handle the foundation causes of corruption in Laos.
No answer provided
Many officers have made it identified that they’re conscious of the issues of corruption and immunity within the Lao authorities and amongst these in positions of energy.
Common Vilay Lakhamfong, the Lao minister of public safety, just lately acknowledged that “some cops abuse their energy and place by facilitating drug trafficking and smuggling, whereas others arrange checkpoints on highways and demand bribes from motorists”.
However the minister didn’t give particulars concerning the measures the federal government plans to place in place to take care of such crimes.
Even talking privately, officers appeared at a loss for the best way to curb fraud in Laos.
https://www.rfa.org/english/information/laos/cop-02082024181633.html
