Bangkok Gambling Den Located 'In Railway Police Area'

[webfact]

Gambling den 'in railway police area'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- One of the gambling dens revealed by politician Chuwit Kamolvisit is located in the jurisdiction of the Railway Police, not the Metropolitan Police Bureau, a senior metropolitan police commander said yesterday.

Railway Police have been contacted and informed of the den, said Pol MajGeneral Pachara Bunyasit, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 1. "If there is nothing done [by the Railway Police], MPD 1 will take action against it," he said.

All Bangkokbased police officers were instructed to check out their precincts for gambling dens, after Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit released lists of reported illegal gambling operations. Those who have completed their inspections say they have found none.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, a former police captain, said most permanent dens no longer existed but mobile ones were still operating - but this was not the police's fault. "Police do nothing wrong by not taking action against mobile dens… which are difficult to keep track of," he added.

Chalerm claimed he had been offered hundreds of millions of baht by den operators to turn a blind eye to their operations - but had turned them down. "All I can say is that if I am in position, no dens can operate," he said. He did not say why he did not take action against the socalled den operators for offering bribes.

On Chuwit's revelation, MPD2 commander Pol MajGeneral Samreong Suwannaphong said he had found no dens in his jurisdiction and could not tell whether any had operated there previously. "All dens operating [in the MPD2 jurisdiction] were inundated during the floods," he said.

Bang Khen police said there were no dens in their jurisdiction, as reported by Inspectorgeneral Pol LtGeneral Sathaphorn Laothong, who said he had found a number of dens operating outside Bangkok. They were in the jurisdiction of Regional Police Bureau 1, under operators named as Sor Sommai and Hia Tue.

Deputy Bangkok police chief Pol MajGeneral Nares Nanthachote said police in Bangkok would make inspections for local dens every 10 days starting from yesterday, for a 30day period. They had no plans yet to interview Chuwit over his revelation.

-- The Nation 2012-02-02

[Zpete]

Well, should be safe if they pay the tea monies.

[digibum]

I have to give kudos to The Nation for at least pointing out the glaring logical flaw:

Chalerm claimed he had been offered hundreds of millions of baht by den operators to turn a blind eye to their operations - but had turned them down. "All I can say is that if I am in position, no dens can operate," he said. He did not say why he did not take action against the socalled den operators for offering bribes.

Unfortunately, they did not catch this other logical inconsistency:

"Police do nothing wrong by not taking action against mobile dens… which are difficult to keep track of,"

You know, because policing is about doing the easy stuff.

[Crushdepth]

I have to give kudos to The Nation for at least pointing out the glaring logical flaw:

Chalerm claimed he had been offered hundreds of millions of baht by den operators to turn a blind eye to their operations - but had turned them down. "All I can say is that if I am in position, no dens can operate," he said. He did not say why he did not take action against the socalled den operators for offering bribes.

Unfortunately, they did not catch this other logical inconsistency:

"Police do nothing wrong by not taking action against mobile dens… which are difficult to keep track of,"

You know, because policing is about doing the easy stuff.

And the police have more important things to do, like obstructing traffic.

[LuckyLew]

Seems to me this is a game of "pass the buck"

"I won;t raid this den"

"you raid it"

"no you raid it"

"up to you"

No on wants to ruffle the feathers of those at the top

[sparebox2]

The roulette tables do not spin unit the train leaves the platform.

[EyesWideOpen]

This is really one of my favorite ongoing stories. The police keep denying gambling dens exist, and Chuwit keeps exposing them........Too funny for words. Are the leaders here so arrogant , that they believe that they can say whatever they want, no matter how absurd it sounds ??? Seeing as how the gambling dens were supposedly how the last police chief lost his job ( maybe the last guy took the hundreds of millions of baht in bribes that Chalerm, the bastion of morality has turned down) maybe the new chief is especially sensitive to the issue. Although it seems that Chalerm is making all the noise, as always.

[Robroy]

Captain Renault: "I am shocked - shocked! - to discover there is gambling on these premises!"

Policeman: "Here are your winnings, sir."

Renault: "Thankyou."

(Casablanca)

[Just1Voice]

1) Chewit exposes - with photos.

2) Local BIB big wigs call operators and warn them of raid - Oh, and this will cost you extra this month.

3) Cops "raid" casino and find empty building - "Nope! No gambling here!"

4) Next day - back to business as usual.

This is funnier than any episode of "The Keystone Cops" I used to watch as a kid.

[moe666]

Thailand get over your lack of morales and legalize gambling, tax it and improve the school system with the money

[Roachiebkk]

The long running gambling den off ****** Road has been running long before I came here in 2001 and continues to. Twice a night the two BiBs on a motorcycle trundle down the soi to collect their 'well documented' haul. Always been known as a 'police run' gambling den, not just tolerated but operated.

[IssanDM]

Forget the gambling den, check out those fine looking VW's sitting out front

[conimex]

Make gambling legal, means: No more tea money ! Chalerm seems to be a very sincere and honest man, with all this illegal gambling his bank account smiles !

[Orgathai]

police: one BIG joke as always!

[JSPS]

Who is this "NotHere" person that is running all these gambling dens?

[TheWalkingMan]

I like the Open Now sign.

[EyesWideOpen]

Thailand get over your lack of morales and legalize gambling, tax it and improve the school system with the money

Never happen. Do some research on King Rama V. He is the reason why there is no gambling here in Thailand, and most likely never will be.

[Rionoir]

"Police do nothing wrong by not taking action against mobile dens… which are difficult to keep track of,"

You know, because policing is about doing the easy stuff.

haha nice

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

I like the Open Now sign.

I was going to say...anyone notice the big red sign out front...?

[webfact]

Progress of Probe into Gambling Den

BANGKOK: -- The police inspector general says gambling dens in Bangkok have closed in the wake of an intensifying crackdown.

Police Inspector General, Police General Sathaporn Laothong said three gambling dens are operating in Bang Khen and Khannayao districts.

However, the Metropolitan Police Bureau said it is still unable to arrest suspects as they have closed and no casino equipment has been found.

Sathaporn then stated that Deputy Lieutenant General Tha-ngai Prassachaksattru is investigating whether there is a gambling den operating in the judicial area of the Metropolitan Police Division One.

He said Tha-ngai will report his findings in two days.

The inspector general stated that he cannot establish whether the city police report contradicts his information, as he must review it first.

Sathaporn then said the senior officers of agencies in the areas where the Hia Tue and Sor Sommai gambling dens are located will be summoned for interrogation.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-02

[belg]

the police officer was offended that the newspaper did not spell his personal gambling den in the article and used the name of his friend and competition of the other branch

[alstaxi]

This gambling den is not in my section, sounds as lame as the dog ate my homework, what a pathetic excuse.

[Ricardo]

Who is this "NotHere" person that is running all these gambling dens?

He appears to often spend a lot of his working-time at the local cop-shop, but perhaps they are also involved in politics, this is doubtless why they are so hard to find ! Will they ever be named-and-shamed, I wouldn't bet on it, if I were allowed to bet, that is !

[billd766]

If a gambling den or a casino is found in ANY police district the police commander and his immediate subordinates should be suspended on no pay or allowances.

If the casinos or gambling dens are found in more than one police district the the current chief of police and his immediate subordinates should be suspended on no pay or allowances.

If more than one casino or gambling den is found in a police district then the police commander and his immediate subordinates should be fired from the police and jailed.

The same for the current chief of police and his immediate subordinates.

[z12]

VW's and not BMW's in front of a gambling den, must be one of the poorer ones.

Edited February 2, 2012 by z12

[AndyKapp]

"He did not say why he did not take action against the socalled den operators for offering bribes."

Kudos to the Nation you say Digibum, are you kidding me? Come on, was he even asked the question? Where is the investigative media in all of this. I mean this could sell papers and get viewers if they ever did anything that would uncover some actual news. "He didn't say" that pretty well sums up the whole of the Nations investigative reporting.

[bigbamboo]

_{It should those mobile gambling dens are VERY fast and therefore too quick for the Thai Police.}

Edited February 2, 2012 by bigbamboo

[Derifo]

I thought I was the only one who knew that they obstruct traffic.

Edited February 2, 2012 by Derifo

[digibum]

"He did not say why he did not take action against the socalled den operators for offering bribes."

Kudos to the Nation you say Digibum, are you kidding me? Come on, was he even asked the question? Where is the investigative media in all of this. I mean this could sell papers and get viewers if they ever did anything that would uncover some actual news. "He didn't say" that pretty well sums up the whole of the Nations investigative reporting.

I prefer to celebrate the small victories. :-) The mere fact that it was even mentioned is better than most of what gets regurgitated as news in Thailand.

Do I hold The Economist, The NYT, and other publications to higher standards? Most certainly. However, seeing how timid the Thai press usually is, I feel this is a step in the right direction.

[noitom]

Captain Renault: "I am shocked - shocked! - to discover there is gambling on these premises!"

Policeman: "Here are your winnings, sir."

Renault: "Thankyou."

(Casablanca)

Casablanca was 70 years ago. Things haven't changed much. It was an incredibly insightful piece of work. Maybe something will come along based on Thai society that will be as compelling and keep people entertained long after these guys and us are gone.