BANGKOK, THAILAND – The former governor of Bangkok Remand Prison denied any role in a prostitution scandal, insisting he was targeted for exposing corruption within the justice system.
Ex-prison chief alleges revenge campaign
Through his lawyers, dismissed prison governor Manop Chomchuen issued a sweeping rebuttal to the accusations and portrayed himself as the victim of a political plot. His legal team claimed the exposure of the scandal was a large-scale revenge operation orchestrated by the Ministry of Justice.
They argued that in earlier testimony Manop had implicated senior ministry officials and had transferred staff who allegedly demanded bribes, who were now seeking retribution.
“The allegations are unfair.”
said his lawyer. Manop called for all investigations to be handed to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which he described as the only independent body.
Evidence from secret room and banned visits
Investigators reported that the material evidence pointed in a different direction. In a 10‑square‑metre room below the governor’s residence, they found condoms, bodily fluids, alcohol, tobacco and other banned items.
According to the findings, Chinese women had been brought into the high-security facility on Sundays, when all visits were normally prohibited. A relative of a Chinese inmate was said to have brought in at least one woman, and surveillance cameras showed that such visits occurred repeatedly.
Guards transferred, suspended and under scrutiny
The personnel fallout was already extensive, with 20 officers transferred, six suspended and 14 others under intensive investigation. Some guards admitted they had acted on orders, while others claimed they had no knowledge of the activities.
Justice Minister Police Lieutenant General Rutthaphon Naowarat confirmed the breadth of the wrongdoing.
“The misconduct occurred at several levels.”
said Rutthaphon, adding that the prison suffered from systemic security gaps, especially at weekends.
Political stakes and Chinese “Grey Capital”
The affair developed into a politically charged case extending beyond prison walls. Opposition MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn of the People’s Party demanded a comprehensive review of all privileges granted to Chinese inmates.
He also sought closer scrutiny of opaque financial flows linked to Chinese “Grey Capital” investments in Thailand. Observers warned that the case could trigger a political upheaval reaching into the highest ranks of the justice ministry.
Special probes continue to track money and movements
Despite Manop’s emphatic claims of innocence, special investigators from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) continued to collect evidence. They examined financial records, telephone communications and movement data, and even relatives of suspects were being checked.
Authorities signalled that the full truth behind the prison scandal would eventually emerge, regardless of the former governor’s resistance. Public pressure for transparency and accountability in the case remained high.