Latest Raid A Clear Warning For Corrupt Thai Police Officers

[webfact]

Latest raid a clear warning for corrupt police officers

SUPARAT IAMTAN

THE NATION

For many people, yesterday's raid on a gambling den, in which some 200 people were arrested, can be seen as a warning for police officers who allow gambling dens to operate in their jurisdiction and a reminder of how serious Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Winai Thongsong is about cracking down.

This is the first time that the den, which is protected by two padlocked exits and three metal-and-concrete doors, in Bangkok's Tao Poon area was raided.

It was reported that the police team was only able to break down the exit near the Prachuap Market, and that took two hours to bring down three doors to get to the den's lobby.

This raid is expected to have some metropolitan police officers transferred in a reshuffle to be announced at the end of the year.

On September 12, then Metropolitan Police Chief Lt-General Chakthip Chaijinda had initially transferred Phya Thai superintendent Colonel Saman Rodkamnerd, Tao Poon superintendent Colonel Weera Jiraweera and Bang Yikhan superintendent Colonel Adisak Khunaphan to investigate the alleged operation of gambling dens in their jurisdiction. However, they were reinstated after the probe did not find them guilty.

The authorities believe that several gambling dens are being operated by senior police officers or politicians in Bangkok, and that they continue being run because they get advance warnings about planned police raids. Police have been targeting the following dens:

Chokchai 4 Den: Believed to have been opened on June 16 this year by "Ko Luck" and former Rama 9 den owner "Jeh Hung". Ko Luck allegedly ran a massage parlour before opening a casino-like gambling den.

Tao Poon Den: Located amid the slums in Bang Sue district, this was reportedly the country's largest den with the largest sums of money being circulated. Reportedly backed by several influential figures, the den had a strict policy of checking every patron with a metal detector, examining their membership card and confiscating their cell-phones before allowing them entry.

Loyfa Den: Run from a condominium on Boromarajajonani Road, this den was owned by former police officer "Sergeant Manas" and would often be warned in advance of police raid.

Bang Na Den: Operated for more than two decades on Sukhumvit Soi 101/1, the den - allegedly owned by a local politician - requires close checks before patrons are ushered in through a multi-door entrance.

Sia Thor Den: Located in Soi Rongsi on Rama III Road, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Thung Mahamek police station, this den on the banks of the Chao Phraya River allegedly used human shields against police raids. The den was temporarily shut down as the owner, known as "Sia Thor", joined others to open a new den in the Ratchadapisek area.

Tee Phot Den: It initially operated in Soi Ekkamai 30 by renting gambling tables for Bt70,000 each before relocating to Rama III area. Its owner is said to have close ties with a politician in Bang Bon and it is believed that the money circulated in the establishment came from Hong Kong, China and Macau. The den is currently closed pending a "clear-coast" signal.

Yaowarat's Tee Yai and Pan Thong dens: Operated for seven years, the dens have relocated from abandoned buildings in Soi Prachasongkhro 16 to the Yaowarat area.

Jeh Ngor Den: This decade-old den, located near Soi Charoenkrung 46 under the jurisdiction of Yannawa police station, only takes in regular members.

Otto Den: Operated for three years in Soi Patthanakan 30, this den also held monthly lucky draws offering expensive prizes such as Honda CR-V sedans. It has been shut down temporarily.

Pratunam Den: This den, located inside an old theatre under the jurisdiction of the Phya Thai police station, was closed after a crackdown led by then-national police chief General Seripisut Temiyavej.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

Related topic:

Hundreds nabbed in gambling den raid in Bangkok's Tao Poon area

http://www.thaivisa....-tao-poon-area/

[Reasonableman]

If they get caught they get transferred. They must be quaking in their boots.

[noitom]

This is called "The Thai Cash Reshuffle." The changing of hands among police so as to give everyone a chance at the skim. The police "franchise" is very valuable, and the expansion of gambling works well with the Thai traditional businesses of prostitution and pirated software, music, and films. Police, it's a career path that represents unlimited lucrative opportunities.

[animatic]

Message:

'Pay upstream now or we cut you out of the loop.'

[virtualtraveller]

That's at least 10 dens that are am open secret and published in the news, some operating for several decades successfully, and the police seem 'unable' to shut them down, perhaps the word should be 'unwilling'. The one raided obviously was a fall guy since it wasn't owned by powerful enough people or didn't pay enough.

[Considered Opinion]

Oh my Lord, do you mean to say, that there are corrupt Thai Police Officers? OMG I am stunned. Shocked. Bewildered.

And I always trusted them so much. How can they let us down like this?

[Orgathai]

probably the police does not read the Nation

[boggle]

Strange. No wods of cash on dispay

[catmac]

All joking aside, it really does go to show the depth of corruption that flourished in Bangkok during the coup/puppet Abhisit era. And to what political party do people believe that the Bangkok politicians involved belong to?

Of course, I'm just waiting for the usual suspects to start screaming "Thaksin! Thaksin!" to divert attention away from the Bangkok trough of graft and corruption, and those whose snouts are busy gobbling up the swill.

[whybother]

All joking aside, it really does go to show the depth of corruption that flourished in Bangkok during the coup/puppet Abhisit era. And to what political party do people believe that the Bangkok politicians involved belong to?

Of course, I'm just waiting for the usual suspects to start screaming "Thaksin! Thaksin!" to divert attention away from the Bangkok trough of graft and corruption, and those whose snouts are busy gobbling up the swill.

Yep. Before Abhisit there were no gambling dens.

[KKvampire]

If they get caught they get transferred. They must be quaking in their boots.

Exactly, never dealing with the issue of Police corruption, throwing a bone to the media and public.

[KKvampire]

All joking aside, it really does go to show the depth of corruption that flourished in Bangkok during the coup/puppet Abhisit era. And to what political party do people believe that the Bangkok politicians involved belong to?

Of course, I'm just waiting for the usual suspects to start screaming "Thaksin! Thaksin!" to divert attention away from the Bangkok trough of graft and corruption, and those whose snouts are busy gobbling up the swill.

Thaksin ?, Gambling Dens? Hahahaha, he wouldn't be associated with Thousands or an odd million baht. Its the Billions by more corporate methods.

[jalansanitwong]

There has been a crackdown on Thai's running small gambling dens across Bangkok since Yingluck came into office. Obviously the big dens are well protected by the BIB and may even be owned by a few. Nothing will change.This is just a 'show piece' for the media. Plenty of casino chips on display but no money.Was it really a raid or just a media stunt for the ailing PM. TIT...nothing changes except the faces.

[renaissanc]

What I would like to see in the newspapers is sentences about politicians being involved in corruption made bold. They should be repeated every day until the people start to think, "Oh! Maybe corruption is bad. Maybe our politicians are corrupt. maybe we shouldn't sell our votes to them. Etc." I dream of this happening, but the reality seems to be: 1) The newspapers are scared to do this. 2) The politicians have such a grip on the rural folks that such a reality is unlikely for decades.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

All joking aside, it really does go to show the depth of corruption that flourished in Bangkok during the coup/puppet Abhisit era. And to what political party do people believe that the Bangkok politicians involved belong to?

Of course, I'm just waiting for the usual suspects to start screaming "Thaksin! Thaksin!" to divert attention away from the Bangkok trough of graft and corruption, and those whose snouts are busy gobbling up the swill.

This has nothing to do with politics, except perhaps who gets the final upstream handouts as they filter up.

It's endemic to many areas of Thai society, and will remain long after everyone reading this is dust in the wind.

Your statement has the same logic as "this shows the incompetence of the Obama administration".

No one actually is trying to do anything about the fundamental problem, at least no one with the power to do so.

Because out of that very small group, the vast majority every single last one of them are the ones most benefiting from it.

What you are observing and commenting on is just window-dressing for various naive and idealistic audiences, IMO opinion mostly foreign. The locals and everyone else in the know just gives a sly smile and little laugh up the sleeve. . .

[Reasonableman]

All joking aside, it really does go to show the depth of corruption that flourished in Bangkok during the coup/puppet Abhisit era. And to what political party do people believe that the Bangkok politicians involved belong to?

Of course, I'm just waiting for the usual suspects to start screaming "Thaksin! Thaksin!" to divert attention away from the Bangkok trough of graft and corruption, and those whose snouts are busy gobbling up the swill.

"Cat"cry in this case seems to be "Abhisit! Abhisit!", who is apparently (for some) the author of all that's been wrong with LOS since the Stone Age. In what way is this better? Always nice to have a scapegoat, I guess, whoever it may be. But its actually a collective national responsibility, of the users and the (ab)used, both of whom conspire to perpetuate a corrupt system. What is in place has been ingrained for decades, even centuries, and blaming the immediately previous incumbent alone is both naive and fatuous.

[exalll]

All joking aside, it really does go to show the depth of corruption that flourished in Bangkok during the coup/puppet Abhisit era. And to what political party do people believe that the Bangkok politicians involved belong to?

Of course, I'm just waiting for the usual suspects to start screaming "Thaksin! Thaksin!" to divert attention away from the Bangkok trough of graft and corruption, and those whose snouts are busy gobbling up the swill.

Yes ... let's not allow facts to get in the way of some Thaksin-esque propaganda. Of the gambling dens named in the article for which information is provided on the length of their existence, three were clearly opened during Thaksin's administration (Tee Yai, Pan Thong and Joh Ngor Dens); 1 was probably opened shortly before the Abhisit administration (Otto Den); and only 1 in the last few days of his administration (Chokchai 4).

[elcent]

shut them all down and legalize a few casinos under a strict control. First ALL of the dens need to close the doors. The backers of these have always hindered legal casinos.

Edited December 22, 2011 by elcent

[ralphlsasser]

I honestly believe if a dog house was built wrong, some of the ones here would blame it on Thaksin. Really stupid.

[whybother]

I honestly believe if a dog house was built wrong, some of the ones here would blame it on Thaksin. Really stupid.

It doesn't seem that anyone is blaming Thaksin for the gambling dens.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

When I look at the expressions of the guys in the photo, I can't help but imagine a conversation something along the lines of...

"OK, as soon as we finish this BS media show, let's head over to Somchai's place where we've got all the cash stashed from today's raid, split it up among ourselves, and then head out for a big night of gambling and party girls.... Yaaaaah!!!!!!!"

[Fookhaht]

I honestly believe if a dog house was built wrong, some of the ones here would blame it on Thaksin. Really stupid.

Didn't he have a hand in the internal corruption at the Building and Standards Division of the Ministry of Science and Technology? Yes, that would make all dog houses suspect. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

[Briggsy]

What a ridiculous editorial line for the Nation to take. Nothing could be further from the truth. They just write the first thing that comes into their head or the journalist has delegated the writing to some 15-year-olds.

[Fookhaht]

What a ridiculous editorial line for the Nation to take. Nothing could be further from the truth. They just write the first thing that comes into their head or the journalist has delegated the writing to some 15-year-olds.

What a substantive response!

[blackthorn2005]

"the den, which is protected by two padlocked exits and three metal-and-concrete doors," You would not want to be caught in there if a fire broke pout!

[Fookhaht]

"the den, which is protected by two padlocked exits and three metal-and-concrete doors," You would not want to be caught in there if a fire broke pout!

Maybe they want to make sure the evidence would be destroyed in a fire?

[Mystory]

Pattaya police are doing there part, they shut down a card game and got 120baht in money. Pattaya police look out as well.

[chuang]

I am sure these casinos were up and running during the previous government...why no action then ????

Edited December 22, 2011 by chuang

[david555]

Pattaya will be whiteout a single BIB then .......!! .. better start organize " citizen patrols"

[transam]

If corrupt BiB were eliminated then there would be no BiB.