On Thurs I was up and on my way to town. I was supposed to be meeting a friend at 11 and needed to get into the police station at Patumwan early to be able to keep the appointment. I was there not long after opening time - it's an extensive compound - the police clearance section was building no. 24. It is well set up and organised and he police speak some English - very nice as my Thai has not progressed beyond please, thank-you, and other basic courteousies...
The police clearance certificate requires fingerprinting (I guess they keep them on record to, so no crime committing for me in Thailand), photographing, filling in forms with weight, height, religion.... I am not sure how knowing that my jeans are tighter than they should be helps them to determine my criminality... The application form states on it that there are no application fees associated with the application, though there was no mention of postage fees. On mentioning that i wanted it sent to Australia, the police seargent said it would be 200 baht - fair enough - I had checked EMS costs and it was 200 baht - airmail is only 25 baht or so but no idea for the registering cost. He sent me to another counter which also asked for 100 baht postage money.... hmmm....
I explained I had given money already... I went to a new counter to write an envelope for them to send out the certificate. (next to counter 7 where I had parted with my 200 baht) He wanted 100 baht..... Insisting I had already paid, I asked the police officer at counter 7 if the 200 baht, was for postage.... I politely snatched it back from under the paperweight on his table... and gave it to the officer with the envelope. Their English lapsed when I asked for a receipt...
A little irritated, I went to the information counter and the postage price and was told 40 baht. I went back again to insist on a receipt and my changed and he threw the 100 baht at me.... hmmm... It must be a short straw of a police job not being able to extract bribes...
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