This is the shocking moment a traffic policeman allegedly took a bribe from a tourist at a busy junction in Thailand.

The officer flagged the holidaymaker on a rented motorcycle over a supposed offence but allegedly agreed to let him off in return for a backhander.

CCTV footage shows the corrupt cop looking around his post near the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar before turning his back to the motorist and holding out his hand. The rider then slipped some cash into his hand on September 25.

The satisfied officer was seen stroking the driver's arm before letting him speed off.

Locals were outraged as footage of the apparent corruption emerged online.

They claimed several traffic police had set up unauthorised 'floating checkpoints' across the city to collect money from alleged traffic violators, especially tourists.

Police Colonel Jane Sopha, superintendent of the Chiang Mai Provincial Police traffic division, said: ‘We have ordered the officer in the footage to be immediately suspended. An investigation committee has also been assembled.

'If he is confirmed to have made a violation, we will punish him strictly without offering any assistance.

'The video of his actions spread quickly and has severely damaged the reputation of the police. I would like to urge the public to wait for the results of the investigation before jumping to conclusions.

'As of now, the driver in the video has not yet come forward to file a report.'

Thailand is ranked 107th out of 180 countries on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International. The country's police and politicians have long had reputations for corrupt practice.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is currently serving a jail sentence of eight years, which was later mysteriously reduced to justt one year, for abuse of power, conflicts of interest, and corruption tied to his term in office from 2001 to 2006.