Chuwit's Gambling-Dens Charge Prompts Crackdown In Bangkok

[webfact]

MP's gambling-dens charge prompts crackdown

By The Nation

Action has been taken against two senior Bangkok police officers and three other policemen after allegations in Parliament this week of widespread illegal gambling.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Jakthip Chaijinda yesterday transferred Metropolitan Police Division 2 commander Maj-General Damrongsak Kittiprapat and Sutthisan superintendent Colonel Paisal Wongwatcharamongkol to inactive posts at Metropolitan Police Headquarters.

The move took place after Chuwit Kamolvisit, leader of the Loving Thailand Party, revealed a gambling-den operation in Bangkok's police jurisdiction with the initial "Sor" during Tuesday's Parliament session, and later commented further on other gambling dens in the Ratchadaphisek area.

Besides the two officers, three other policemen at Sutthisan police station were transferred to inactive posts, police spokesman Pol Maj-General Prawut Thawornsiri said yesterday. Chaktip ordered their immediate transfer to Metropolitan Police Headquarters for 30 days pending investigation, he said.

Meanwhile, Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission secretary-general Ampol Wongsiri said PACC investigations had uncovered other gambling activities similar to those alleged by Chuwit. It found a major gambling den in Soi Ratchadaphisek 18 belonging to the same owner as another den on Rama IX Road, while smaller dens operated in Lat Phrao apartments.

He said most nightclubs had drug-selling activities in their toilets as Chuwit had claimed.

A source at PACC said the agency had received complaints about a large gambling den that Chuwit claimed had senior police as shareholders and was operated openly and with immunity to police raids. The PACC too had ignored the den's activities because it was said to have connections with high-status figures, the source said.

The PACC investigation found that Bangkok gambling dens had been told to close temporarily before the July 3 election so that customers would turn to those in a neighbouring country - especially those with Thai politicians as shareholders who wanted to get money for vote-buying.

National police chief Pol General Wichian Pojphosri said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had ordered police to crack down on the gambling dens mentioned by Chuwit. He had set up a committee to investigate why local police had not been able to locate gambling dens and if police were involved in them. Wichian said he would personally follow the action against these law-violating nightclubs and gambling dens.

Wichian held a videoconference yesterday with regional police headquarters and ordered them to take strict action against illegal casinos and other gaming outlets, as well as stepping up drug suppression.

Police Inspector-General Sathaporn Laothong, chairing the committee to investigate the gambling-den video clip presented by Chuwit, said he would get information from a number of parties including the MP. The committee would check whether there were gambling dens as claimed and whether police had neglected or benefited from them, he said.

It would summon the Sutthisan superintendent and police officers at Metropolitan Police Division 2, as the committee was expected to report back to the national police chief in seven days. Sathaporn also prepared to obtain a search warrant for the Ratchadaphisek gambling den and he would inspect it himself today.

Jakthip said he was not worried or disheartened about the setting up of a committee to probe gambling activities, despite his previous report that there was no such gambling in Bangkok. He said the committee was established according to procedure and the supervisor's authority.

He said he had done the best he could and instructed Bangkok police to crack down on vice all along. If it was deemed a fault in the performance of his duty, he was willing to take responsibility.

-- The Nation 2011-08-26

[alstaxi]

Gambling in Thailand, corrupt police, pretty earth shaking stuff, thankfully there is no prostitution in Thailand for the authorities to be concerned with.

[AleG]

Wow, in like a hurricane. Maybe, just maybe he'll get positive changes at long last.

The PACC investigation found that Bangkok gambling dens had been told to close temporarily before the July 3 election so that customers would turn to those in a neighbouring country - especially those with Thai politicians as shareholders who wanted to get money for vote-buying.

Now that's one big ugly can of past due date worms, let's see if anyone dares to open it.

Chuwit, may he live long.

[jalansanitwong]

Prostitution and gambling are illegal in Thailand so this story is obviously a beat up by anti-tourism types. I truly believe the TAT is right about promoting Pattaya as a luxury resort with famous beaches and a haven for mum and dad and the kids.Great family destination. !!!

[Thai at Heart]

Takes one to know one I guess.

He must be loving stirring up the pot. He is going to need a bloody big spoon though.

[geriatrickid]

Thiis is what an MP should be doing. Amazing that Mr. Abhisit's Democrat party couldn't take time away from the obsession with Thaksin to get some action against the gambling dens that flourished during their rule. I note how the PTP led administration acted quickly. Nice change from the previous administration.

[Deez]

Chuwit may be Thailands only hope. Hopefully he lives long enough to make some real changes. Chuwit, you da man

[RogueExpat]

Thiis is what an MP should be doing. Amazing that Mr. Abhisit's Democrat party couldn't take time away from the obsession with Thaksin to get some action against the gambling dens that flourished during their rule. I note how the PTP led administration acted quickly. Nice change from the previous administration.

Yeah, only reason they are enforcing it is because it is a typical Phua Thai revenue raising tactic. Flush out the compettition and redirect the the money pool.

Where do you think all the gamblers are going to go now?

Straight to the border Casinos where various PT ministers and their associates have large shareholdings in.

More money to buy off voters for a mandate to change the constitution and let the bull loose in the China shop.

Amazing Phua Thai will only act in self interest, hardly think they have the public good in mind.

[hanuman2543]

You can call Thailand a failed state. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Every dirty buisines in Thailand is protected by "gangsters in uniform", corrupt governmet officials and "influential" people. And on top of that a two tier justicesystem. Somebody who stole some eggs gets 10 years and others, which for example evaded tax big time walk free. There is no rule of law in Thailand.

[jfchandler]

Thiis is what an MP should be doing. Amazing that Mr. Abhisit's Democrat party couldn't take time away from the obsession with Thaksin to get some action against the gambling dens that flourished during their rule. I note how the PTP led administration acted quickly. Nice change from the previous administration.

You're surely taking some mind-altering medication, right? Otherwise, you couldn't possibly have written what you say above...

PTP had absolutely nothing to do with this.... The issue was raised by Chuwit and dumped in the government's lap, which at least had to (like ANY government would) look like it was doing something about it.

Had Chuwit not shoved the issue right into the PTP government's face, we wouldn't be talking about it, and the government wouldn't be doing yet another (including under the Democrats too) one of their false crackdowns on the social ill of the week that like always, will lead to absolutely nothing changing.

BTW, while the PTP government is cracking down, maybe they'll crack down on this kind of stuff too...

Edited August 26, 2011 by jfchandler

[1bbcd5]

Prostitution and gambling are illegal in Thailand so this story is obviously a beat up by anti-tourism types.

[mijan24]

One wonders if the clean up will spread to the Prvinces - we have gambling dens condoned by the BiB plus a 24hr on line casino which reportedly costs 100000 a month to stay open.

Although you cannot lay all the blame on the Thai operators - Farangs have now moved into what was a nice friendly city 450km NE of Bangkok spent big money refurbishing/opening bars and introducing "Bar Fines" all under the eyes of the local BiB @ x baht per month where is our old Police Chief who banished pole dancing etc and promoted a healthy city.

[EyesWideOpen]

All the police are in it up to their necks, from the bottom to the top. A perfect example would be when the Chief of police of Thailand was charged with having people killed over the Blue Diamond affair......That shows ANYTHING is possible. And Chuwit knows the system as well as anybody, having shelled out millions of baht to the police. As someone noted, the poacher has now become the gamekeeper.... :-) As for Chuwit having an early accidental demise, I do not believe that for one second. I think this guy has some serious dirt on a whole lot of people, with instructions to release upon his death. I also think everyone knows that as well, so I suspect the power people hope he has a long and healthy life.......

As far as this latest " crackdown " goes, it will just be a dog and pony show. Shit was shoved in the face of PTP, so they have to do something about it. A few people sent the dreaded and infamous " inactive post", then it will all blow over by next month..........................

[jfchandler]

The PACC investigation found that Bangkok gambling dens had been told to close temporarily before the July 3 election so that customers would turn to those in a neighbouring country - especially those with Thai politicians as shareholders who wanted to get money for vote-buying.

This above seems like a pretty novel approach that's deserving of more comment and recognition...

Fleece upcountry Thais at the cross-the-border gambling tables, and then use their own money to buy their votes in the national election.

And that's not farangs speculating on this... That's the Thais themselves via the PACC saying so...

Let's see...which political faction again is reported to have cross border gambling interests... And which part of the law enforcement community here is deeply involved in gambling (and other vice) operations and who are they aligned with???

Glad to see that both democracy and capitalism are thriving in Thailand.

[BigBikeBKK]

You can call Thailand a failed state. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Every dirty buisines in Thailand is protected by "gangsters in uniform", corrupt governmet officials and "influential" people. And on top of that a two tier justicesystem. Somebody who stole some eggs gets 10 years and others, which for example evaded tax big time walk free. There is no rule of law in Thailand.

What you say is true, but why does it make Thailand a "failed state"? Thailand's economy has been purring along just fine with the current system of corruption.

Sure, those of us from countries that follow (or pretend to follow) the "rule of law" might find the Thai way a bit shocking at first, but once you get used to it you realize the Thai system works just fine :jap:

[scorecard]

Thiis is what an MP should be doing. Amazing that Mr. Abhisit's Democrat party couldn't take time away from the obsession with Thaksin to get some action against the gambling dens that flourished during their rule. I note how the PTP led administration acted quickly. Nice change from the previous administration.

Wow, your a laugh a minute. The pt party acted after they were embarrassed by the video shown by khun chuwit who is not one of the pt gang.

Edited August 26, 2011 by scorecard

[ratcatcher]

Thiis is what an MP should be doing. Amazing that Mr. Abhisit's Democrat party couldn't take time away from the obsession with Thaksin to get some action against the gambling dens that flourished during their rule. I note how the PTP led administration acted quickly. Nice change from the previous administration.

Wow, your a laugh a minute. The pt party acted after they were embarrassed by the video shown by khun chuwit who is not one of the pt gang.

K.Chuwit spent a lot of money on his election campaign. His bull terrier was a feature and now,just like his dog, he's got his teeth into a casino exposure, top cops sent to inactive posts (coming to a golf course near you). This is the start, stay tuned, and PTP had no option but to act. But for K.Chuwit, nothing would have been done, since most of the cops are PTP oriented. Hope his little notebook with names and dates is very safe.

[lovetotravel]

I saw this on youtube.com. Kinda shocked at how large this casino is!!! Unreal.

[hanuman2543]

You can call Thailand a failed state. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Every dirty buisines in Thailand is protected by "gangsters in uniform", corrupt governmet officials and "influential" people. And on top of that a two tier justicesystem. Somebody who stole some eggs gets 10 years and others, which for example evaded tax big time walk free. There is no rule of law in Thailand.

What you say is true, but why does it make Thailand a "failed state"? Thailand's economy has been purring along just fine with the current system of corruption.

Sure, those of us from countries that follow (or pretend to follow) the "rule of law" might find the Thai way a bit shocking at first, but once you get used to it you realize the Thai system works just fine :jap:

Fact is that "normal" people don't profit from the profits which are made in Thailand, the gap between rich and poor is growing every day here. And a country is a failed state when everything is possible for money It is a signal that nobody has to respect the law, when rich people never held responsible.

Edited August 26, 2011 by hanuman2543

[Deez]

You can call Thailand a failed state. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Every dirty buisines in Thailand is protected by "gangsters in uniform", corrupt governmet officials and "influential" people. And on top of that a two tier justicesystem. Somebody who stole some eggs gets 10 years and others, which for example evaded tax big time walk free. There is no rule of law in Thailand.

What you say is true, but why does it make Thailand a "failed state"? Thailand's economy has been purring along just fine with the current system of corruption.

Sure, those of us from countries that follow (or pretend to follow) the "rule of law" might find the Thai way a bit shocking at first, but once you get used to it you realize the Thai system works just fine :jap:

Works fine if you are the 5% of thais who control 95% of the wealth. For the other 95%...Not so much

[dddave]

I'm reminded of the timeless scene from the timeless film "CASABLANCA":

Inspector Renault (Claude Rains) to Rick (Bogart) as he loudly announces the closing of "Rick's":

"I'm shocked, shocked to see that there is gambling going on here!"

Waiter; approaching Renault and handing him an envelope:

"Your winnings, sir."

[AleG]

You can call Thailand a failed state. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Every dirty buisines in Thailand is protected by "gangsters in uniform", corrupt governmet officials and "influential" people. And on top of that a two tier justicesystem. Somebody who stole some eggs gets 10 years and others, which for example evaded tax big time walk free. There is no rule of law in Thailand.

What you say is true, but why does it make Thailand a "failed state"? Thailand's economy has been purring along just fine with the current system of corruption.

Sure, those of us from countries that follow (or pretend to follow) the "rule of law" might find the Thai way a bit shocking at first, but once you get used to it you realize the Thai system works just fine :jap:

Fact is that "normal" people don't profit from the profits which are made in Thailand, the gap between rich and poor is growing every day here. And a country is a failed state when everything is possible for money It is a signal that nobody has to respect the law, when rich people never held responsible.

Corruption is a trickle up economy, while some people in the lower rungs my feel they are benefiting, the truth is all wealth is eventually siphoned upwards.

[tragickingdom]

And the police chief is still telling that their are no illegal activities going on around the mentioned stations. The police is so incredibly corrupt in Thailand that they even manage to let university lecturers flee the country after they have exposed their scam. When will policemen ever been fired and prosecuted if they spend more money on petrol for the Benz than they get on salary r when it works out that they did not buy their Rolex at Patpong but in Gaysorn Plaza?

[whybother]

And the police chief is still telling that their are no illegal activities going on around the mentioned stations. The police is so incredibly corrupt in Thailand that they even manage to let university lecturers flee the country after they have exposed their scam. When will policemen ever been fired and prosecuted if they spend more money on petrol for the Benz than they get on salary r when it works out that they did not buy their Rolex at Patpong but in Gaysorn Plaza?

Ofcourse there's no illegal activities. They've been given a week's notice to move elsewhere.

[lovetotravel]

And the police chief is still telling that their are no illegal activities going on around the mentioned stations. The police is so incredibly corrupt in Thailand that they even manage to let university lecturers flee the country after they have exposed their scam. When will policemen ever been fired and prosecuted if they spend more money on petrol for the Benz than they get on salary r when it works out that they did not buy their Rolex at Patpong but in Gaysorn Plaza?

Ofcourse there's no illegal activities. They've been given a week's notice to move elsewhere.

Right on. Just saw the police chief on TV at the location where the casino was suppose to be. It's been cleaned out. No evidence. And he said something about it being hard to prosecute people as it's private property.

[Cnxforever]

"Wichian held a videoconference yesterday with regional police headquarters and ordered them to take strict action against illegal casinos and other gaming outlets, as well as stepping up drug suppression."

Meaning: Stage a little show for the public until everything quietens down - and then it's business as usual.

Wonder who will take over the casinos after it has gone quiet again - after all they make millions every day ??? I am sure the re-negotiations are already under way! And drug surpression - oh my - why should they surpress something that makes them filthy rich?

[colinscarr]

I trust Chuwit isn't planning to make a habit of exposing corruption and the like, or he might need a kevlar jacket.

[KRS1]

The biggest casino in thailand is in sukhumvit 101/3

no mention of it at all...hmmmm

[pepi2005]

People will always gamble - and everywhere in Asia, they just LOVE it.

Of course it goes underground it it is forbidden by the government.

Singapore and other Asian countries have realized that and allow it under controlled conditions - and make HELL OF A MONEY with it.

While in Thailand, 'gambling crackdowns' have always been a traditional way of getting rid of competition. Never heard of a massage salon or Karaoke spots that were shut down because 'card playing' (OMG!!) had taken place?

[bangon04]

.

K.Chuwit spent a lot of money on his election campaign. His bull terrier was a feature and now,just like his dog, he's got his teeth into a casino exposure, top cops sent to inactive posts (coming to a golf course near you). This is the start, stay tuned, and PTP had no option but to act. But for K.Chuwit, nothing would have been done, since most of the cops are PTP oriented. Hope his little notebook with names and dates is very safe.

If not he will be needing some extra bodyguards....