Over a hundred customers reportedly flee during late night Pattaya police raid on alleged entertainment venue posing as an “art gallery” in Jomtien

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

Jomtien/Pattaya-Pattaya police estimate that roughly over a hundred customers fled last night, many by jumping fences, dashing into traffic, and climbing out of windows during a raid on an art gallery that police claim is actually a nightclub/entertainment venue.

 

Nightclubs, bars, pubs, and similar venues have been legally closed since early April of 2021 due to Covid-19 precautions. However, with strict Covid19 rules and certifications these venues have recently been allowed to apply to convert to “restaurants” temporarily. Some of the strict rules, however, include a mandatory 9PM closing time, required rapid Covid19 testing of all customers and staff, and many other precautions and rules.

 

The raid took place at 1030 PM last night, January 13th, 2022, according to Pattaya Police Col. Kullachart Kullachai who personally led the raid on the Ma Ha Na Cafe and Art Gallery on Second Road in Jomtien near Soi 9. This was well after the mandatory 9PM closing time.

 

According to Col. Kullachart, staff on duty attempted to slow down entry of police to the venue allowing roughly a hundred customers, both Thais and foreign nationals, to flee through a variety of side and back exits, with some reportedly seen climbing over walls, jumping out of windows, and even running into traffic to escape the raid.

 

Full story:  https://thepattayanews.com/2022/01/14/over-a-hundred-customers-reportedly-flee-during-late-night-pattaya-police-raid-on-alleged-entertainment-venue-posing-as-an-art-gallery-in-jomtien/

 

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-01-14

 

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[Maha Sarakham]

The never ending circus.

[fredscats]

A joy to watch,cameras at the ready hopefully

[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

According to Col. Kullachart, staff on duty attempted to slow down entry of police to the venue allowing roughly a hundred customers, both Thais and foreign nationals, to flee through a variety of side and back exits, with some reportedly seen climbing over walls, jumping out of windows, and even running into traffic to escape the raid.

You see this action is merely putting peoples lives at risk from falls or road accidents ...................

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, Maha Sarakham said:

The never ending circus.

Cats and mice, catch me if you can games... CAN IT BE more ridiculous than this i wonder? has the police nothing better to do? no pride?... guess not...

[jacko45k]

33 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Cats and mice, catch me if you can games... CAN IT BE more ridiculous than this i wonder? has the police nothing better to do? no pride?... guess not...

Been at it for years.  We have had them jump in the drink from over the sea nightclubs. 

[daveAustin]

Police state. SAD!! 

[smedly]

over crowding no social distancing - are the having a laugh, I passed through soi buakoew last night and every venue was rammed, the cops must go past their with their eyes closed or all these venues are fully paid up

[Bangkok Barry]

Thailand in regression once again. Cops seeking out people having a drink, just like in the USA 100 years ago. Adds to the tourist experience, I suppose. Or it would if there were any. Most though are sensible enough to stay far, far away.

[jacko45k]

15 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Police state. SAD!! 

What Thailand? Relative to where?

[anwa]

Follow the laws!If not,go to another country.

 

[Joules]

Rebirth of the speakeasy.  Natural reaction to repression.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

According to Col. Kullachart, staff on duty attempted to slow down entry of police to the venue allowing roughly a hundred customers, both Thais and foreign nationals, to flee through a variety of side and back exits, with some reportedly seen climbing over walls, jumping out of windows, and even running into traffic to escape the raid.

Lol....

[flyfrog]

So the good restaurants who follow the law will be soon punished again with another alcohol ban cause of those idiots, shame on you????

[mtls2005]

I can't see the "art", there's a pole blocking my "appreciation".

 

 

[bbko]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Cops seeking out people having a drink, just like in the USA 100 years ago.

Nonsense, they were out drinking after established hours.  Thousands and thousands of people are able to enjoy a night out having drinks on a daily basis, most are smart enough to follow the rules.

[ChrisKC]

It's all part of the "wonderful" job they are doing. 

 

 

 

[mikebell]

So the new start time for Pattaya Plod is now 9pm?

[WEBBYB808]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

over crowding no social distancing - are the having a laugh, I passed through soi buakoew last night and every venue was rammed, the cops must go past their with their eyes closed or all these venues are fully paid up

I thought you were all for the bars being open, and a free fot all to get through covid and get everything  open again.  One min your like wheres your statistics,  next min youre like, "They're  rammed."  So which is it.  You think the bars should be open spreading covid or not open?

[brianthainess]

Foreigners already have a lot of experience of jumping fences  just to stay in Thailand, so no surprises there. 

[Bangkok Barry]

10 minutes ago, bbko said:

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Cops seeking out people having a drink, just like in the USA 100 years ago.

Nonsense, they were out drinking after established hours.  Thousands and thousands of people are able to enjoy a night out having drinks on a daily basis, most are smart enough to follow the rules.

Perhaps you can explain to us why drinking is safe at 9pm but not safe at 10.30. I can't think if any other country where such a ridiculous rule exists. Can you? Anywhere else, where places are allowed to open, which is almost everywhere, they are also allowed to operate normal hours, not close at some time picked out of the air.

[tomazbodner]

57 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Congrats. First "if you do not like it here, go home" post of the day. You win a prize for unoriginality. Keep up all the insightful posts. You will be POTY

You're encouraging illegal behaviour? There's a reason laws and regulations exist.

[tomazbodner]

3 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Perhaps you can explain to us why drinking is safe at 9pm but not safe at 10.30. I can't think if any other country where such a ridiculous rule exists. Can you? Anywhere else, where places are allowed to open, which is almost everywhere, they are also allowed to operate normal hours, not close at some time picked out of the air.

Good point. Maybe they should not be allowed to open at all. Same risk.

[goatfarmer]

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

Police state. SAD!! 

Is there an idiot trophy we can select? If the writer thinks that police enforcing the law is a police state then every country where there are police would be a police state. The Lives of Others would educate him.

[bbko]

5 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Perhaps you can explain to us why drinking is safe at 9pm but not safe at 10.30. I can't think if any other country where such a ridiculous rule exists. Can you?

I never said drinking is safer before 9, this is about following rules/laws.  Customers & businesses shouldn't do the crime if they can't do the time, and you can take dat to da bank.

[outsider]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

... to flee through a variety of side and back exits...

It's good to know that these exits exist and that they are not blocked in case of a real emergency i.e. a fire.

[big dendrobenaes]

14 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Perhaps you can explain to us why drinking is safe at 9pm but not safe at 10.30. I can't think if any other country where such a ridiculous rule exists. Can you? Anywhere else, where places are allowed to open, which is almost everywhere, they are also allowed to operate normal hours, not close at some time picked out of the air.

covid CAN read the time on peoples watches and clocks mounted on walls !!!!!

[Ginner]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Been at it for years.  We have had them jump in the drink from over the sea nightclubs. 

Remember it is now an offence to criticize the RTP

[Eric Loh]

Bewildering as to why folks risked legal jeopardy and personal harm just to get a drink. Can't they hold on their urge to more appropriate time.  

[renaissanc]

I expect that someone called out, "Are you sure you turned off the gas at home before you came here?" That's why they fled. The arrival of the Police was just a coincidence.