Highways Police Commander Pol Maj-Gen Ekkarat Limsangkart has been transferred to an inactive post at the operations centre of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), while the overloaded truck “bribe-paid” sticker scandal is investigated.

Pol Lt-Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, the CIB commissioner, issued the transfer order, with immediate effect, on Tuesday, relieving Ekkarat of his responsibilities with the highways police until further notice.

The scandal involves a special sticker, which is displayed on the front windscreen off trucks whose owners paid bribes on monthly basis to allow them to load their vehicles beyond legal limits. These trucks will not be stopped for inspection by highway police or checked at weighbridges.

Another order was issued on Tuesday, also with immediate effect, appointing Pol Maj-Gen Jaroonkiat Pankeaw, commander of the Counter Corruption Police Division, as the new commander of the Highways Police Division.

An investigation is underway into this apparently systematic bribe-taking scandal, allegedly implicating highways police and which has been going on for a long time, according to some truck operators.

Sirichai Sricharoensilp, president of the Land Transportation Association of Thailand, said that the bribes paid to state officials vary, depending on the routes of the trucks.

Intra-province, the kickback ranges between 4,000 and 5,000 baht per month. The inter-provincial rate is about 10,000 baht per month and the inter-regional rate can be as much as 20,000 baht per month.

Some truck operators say they are willing to pay the bribes because it is more cost effective to overload than having to make multiple trips. It also saves time if the trucks do to not have to stop for frequent inspections.

Honest truck operators have complained that their trucks are often stopped for inspection or weighing by highways police, causing them unnecessary delays and forcing some to pay kickbacks in return for an easy passage.