Chuwit Demands Urgent Crackdown On Bangkok Gambling Den

[webfact]

Chuwit demands urgent crackdown on gambling den

Kwanhatai Malaikarn,

Suparat Iamtarn,

Samatcha Hunsara

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- MP Chuwit Kamolvisit called on the police yesterday to take immediate action against a gambling den located in Petchburi Soi 5 or risk facing charges of negligence.

He also called on the Metropolitan Police Bureau to launch both criminal and disciplinary action against Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander MajGeneral Patchara Boonyasit for failing to raid the gambling den and make arrests.

"I called on him to inspect the gambling den, but he refused and instead told me to leave the area," Chuwit said, adding that though he could not enter the den himself, he had dispatched spies to make video clips of the activities there.

Bureau spokesman Colonel Preeda Sathavorn accepted the video clips and other evidence about the alleged den and was asked to sign the receipt. Chuwit said he wanted Preeda's signature to prove that the police had officially received evidence of the alleged illegal activities.

"Now if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate," the flamboyant politician said.

Chuwit also submitted similar evidence to National Police Commissioner General Priewphan Damapong's secretary, MajGeneral Piya Tawichai.

The Rak Prathet Thai leader said the police seemed to be very reluctant to crack down on this gambling den because the owner of the operation had close links to an important government figure.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung condemned Chuwit for trying to link the government to illegal gambling activities.

"If he is so confident about it, he should have named the person," Chalerm said, adding that the police bureau was also closely examining Chuwit's words to determine whether they constituted contempt of officialdom.

According to Chalerm, police cannot search private property without a courtapproved search warrant and that gamblers can only get arrested if they are caught redhanded with bets.

"Police did the right thing by suggesting that Chuwit leave the soi. In those circumstances, he could have been attacked because many people there were clearly angered by his behaviour," Chalerm said.

However, the deputy prime minister said that since Chuwit was serving as deputy chair of the House committee on police affairs, he had the right to summon people or police officers to testify.

"Hence, when he gets tipoffs or complaints, he can forward them to relevant authorities. But it is not right for him to summon police officers to a street and order them to conduct a raid. A search warrant must be approved by court after it has held a hearing on whether a warrant is appropriate," Chalerm said.

-- The Nation 2012-07-05

[nurofiend]

"Now if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate,"

this guy's such a moron.

[scorecard]

"Now if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate,"

this guy's such a moron.

Really!

Sure he has his scaly past history, and he admits it. So what!

With the police and other agencies ignoring many legal activities, every citizen has the right to stand up and demand action. That's what democracy is all about.

Personally I support Chuwit or anybody who stands up and demands some action. If it makes the police squirm then they deserve to squirm.

His statement that lack of action will give the den owners time to move is totally logical and a relevant point to make.

Chalerm's comment about 'cannot search with a document' is a laugh. Police have many ways to 'skin a cat' as needed. In any country there are mechanisms whereby the police can get the search warrant within minutes where needed.

Given that Chuwit has spoken up and has handed over videos, photos and more, why haven't the police already gained the the search warrant and conducted the search?

Edited July 4, 2012 by scorecard

[nurofiend]

"Now if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate,"

this guy's such a moron.

Really!

Sure he has his scaly past history, and he admits it. So what!

With the police and other agencies ignoring many legal activities, every citizen has the right to stand up and demand action. That's what democracy is all about.

Personally I support Chuwit or anybody who stands up and demands some action. If it makes the police squirm then they deserve to squirm.

His statement that lack of action will give the den owners time to move is totally logical and a relevant point to make.

Chalerm's comment about 'cannot search with a document' is a laugh. Police have many ways to 'skin a cat' as needed. In any country there are mechanisms whereby the police can get the search warrant within minutes where needed.

Given that Chuwit has spoken up and has handed over videos, photos and more, why haven't the police already gained the the search warrant and conducted the search?

His statement that lack of action will give the den owners time to move is totally logical and a relevant point to make.

the reason why his statement is moronic, is because he is stating it after the fact that it has become a news story.

he's saying "if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate"

and i'm saying, as if they don't already have the time...... the time has come and gone.

if they haven't shut shop by now, they're even more moronic than his statement is.

[Siripon]

The fact that Chuwit was blocked by several men from entering the soi certainly suggests they've got something to hide. Otherwise why not welcome him?

More egg on Mr Chalerm's rather thick face as he claimed there were no more gambling dens in Bangkok.

[Yunla]

"Now if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate,"

this guy's such a moron.

Really!

Sure he has his scaly past history, and he admits it. So what!

With the police and other agencies ignoring many legal activities, every citizen has the right to stand up and demand action. That's what democracy is all about.

What I assume Nurofiend meant is that in order to rid Thai society of corruption, it is better to sit indoors all day pontificating endlessly on internet forums, instead of going out into the world and bravely tackling state corruption head-on despite the risks to oneself.

Its true, Chuwit is a cowardly moron, it is keyboard-gandalfs who are going to save society.

Edited July 4, 2012 by Yunla

[nurofiend]

"Now if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate,"

this guy's such a moron.

Really!

Sure he has his scaly past history, and he admits it. So what!

With the police and other agencies ignoring many legal activities, every citizen has the right to stand up and demand action. That's what democracy is all about.

What I assume Nurofiend meant is that in order to rid Thai society of corruption, it is better to sit indoors all day pontificating endlessly on internet forums, instead of going out into the world and bravely tackling state corruption head-on despite the risks to oneself.

Its true, Chuwit is a cowardly moron, it is keyboard-gandalfs like Nurofiend who are going to save society.

mmm yeah.. nice one yunla

completely based on reality, as usual...

[Yunla]

mmm yeah.. nice one yunla

completely based on reality, as usual...

No but I was reacting to you calling this guy a "moron", I think it takes guts to go out there and face the oligarchs at the top, and their crime interests. I personally don't have the courage or the stamina to go out there and do what he does, but when I see somebody else doing that I don't call them a moron, because I'm just another anonymous keyboard gandalf myself.

[nurofiend]

mmm yeah.. nice one yunla

completely based on reality, as usual...

No but I was reacting to you calling this guy a "moron", I think it takes guts to go out there and face the oligarchs at the top, and their crime interests. I personally don't have the courage or the stamina to go out there and do what he does, but when I see somebody else doing that I don't call them a moron, because I'm just another anonymous keyboard gandalf myself.

i was calling him a moron for making such a moronic comment yunla..

but.. ok yunla

[Yunla]

i was calling him a moron for making such a moronic comment yunla..

but.. ok yunla

You didn't say that in your first post lol. You just said "this guy's a moron" and so I answered that.

Re; your later addition that he was a moron because he tried to hurry it after announcing it, perhaps you have not thought this through. The police are complicit in the gambling dens. That means Chuwit tells them to bust the den, before he goes public, the police do nothing, then he goes public and uses the publicity to scandalise the police into taking action.

Have a cigar.

Edited July 4, 2012 by Yunla

[nurofiend]

i was calling him a moron for making such a moronic comment yunla..

but.. ok yunla

You didn't say that in your first post lol. You just said "this guy's a moron" and so I answered that.

Re; your later addition that he was a moron because he tried to hurry it after announcing it, perhaps you have not thought this through. The police are complicit in the gambling dens. That means Chuwit tells them to bust the den, before he goes public, the police do nothing, then he goes public and uses the publicity to scandalise the police into taking action.

Have a cigar.

lol, there was no later addition yunla, i quoted the phrase that i found moronic and said this guy is a moron.

the quote remains moronic and ridiculous.

if you think what he said is an intelligent remark based on reality, then fine, ok yunla

i think it's a stupid remark to say that if the police don't act now, then they'll have time to relocate, but evidently you disagree with my opinion on this.

[Yunla]

lol, there was no later addition yunla, i quoted the phrase that i found moronic and said this guy is a moron.

the quote remains moronic and ridiculous.

if you think what he said is an intelligent remark based on reality, then fine, ok yunla

i think it's a stupid remark to say that if the police don't act now, then they'll have time to relocate, but evidently you disagree with my opinion on this.

this was the later explanation post / addition I was referring to which explained why he was a moron ;

the reason why his statement is moronic, is because he is stating it after the fact that it has become a news story.

he's saying "if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate"

and i'm saying, as if they don't already have the time...... the time has come and gone.

if they haven't shut shop by now, they're even more moronic than his statement is.

I'm glad you added that as an explanation post, so I understand why you called him a moron. However I disagree with your reason as I said in my last post, he probably reported it to the police before going public but they didn't do anything (my guess because of police complicity) and he then went public and reported it to the police again, stressing the haste aspect. I think to deal with crimes under a police umbrella is to have your hands tied and the media is often your only friend, if you go public and say urgent action needed then there is at least some pressure on the police to act. Obviously none of this will probably make any lasting meaningful change, but I admire him for putting his neck on the line to face what is increasingly a family-business government.

I look up to people who do things I would not dare to do, its a sort of habit of mine as is defending them when they are called morons. Anyway I see your point now so thankyou.

Edited July 5, 2012 by Yunla

[gk10002000]

"Now if the police don't take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate,"

this guy's such a moron.

Really!

Sure he has his scaly past history, and he admits it. So what!

With the police and other agencies ignoring many legal activities, every citizen has the right to stand up and demand action. That's what democracy is all about.

Personally I support Chuwit or anybody who stands up and demands some action. If it makes the police squirm then they deserve to squirm.

His statement that lack of action will give the den owners time to move is totally logical and a relevant point to make.

Chalerm's comment about 'cannot search with a document' is a laugh. Police have many ways to 'skin a cat' as needed. In any country there are mechanisms whereby the police can get the search warrant within minutes where needed.

Given that Chuwit has spoken up and has handed over videos, photos and more, why haven't the police already gained the the search warrant and conducted the search?

You used the word democracy in your post. Unfortunately, Thailand is not a democracy. The 2006 coup, tossing out of the constitution for convenience, and then the whole string of events since then.

[otherstuff1957]

this guy's such a moron.

Politics does make strange bedfellows:

Red Hero: Victor Bout, who sells weapons to the highest bidder

Red Villain: Chuwit, who crusades against corruption.

[nurofiend]

this guy's such a moron.

Politics does make strange bedfellows:

Red Hero: Victor Bout, who sells weapons to the highest bidder

Red Villain: Chuwit, who crusades against corruption.

a crusade... is that what this is?

to me it seems more like sticking your nose to any old stink it can find and calling it the prize.

this guy was talking about this being a valid inclusion as to why yinglucks government should be disqualified

sorry, sometimes all i can do is laugh.

victor bout a udd hero? haha well you learn something new everyday, eh...

perhaps you should read about what abhisit said about thaksins link with bout

[pauljones]

I am told the top Bangkok Casinos service 3,000 customers a day, each spending on average 30,000bt.

The local cop shop gets a % of the daily take.

It is a miracle that Chuwit is still alive.

[geriatrickid]

Why didn't Chuwit go to the police station and make a formal complaint and provide evidence? With his statement and evidence, the police would have consulted with the prosecutor's office and then if the evidence justified further action, a search warrant would have been obtained and the police could have raided the premises. That is how the legal system works in Thailand. It's also how it works in Australia, the UK, and the USA.

I don't quite understand how some people are all in favour of a police raid without a proper search warrant. Do they not realize that without a proper search warrant, the police cannot enter a private dwelling? Charges arising from an illegal search are summarily dismissed in court.

Oh sure, some will say, but "they" would have tipped off the gamblers. Well, not if the great Chuwit had actually followed the legally accepted procedures. Had there been a tipoff, then he could have pursued the matter in his capacity as deputy chair of the House committee on police affairs and taken a bite out of the police officals whom he alleged were corrupt and tipped off the gambling den. Instead, Chuwit took the publicity route and made sure he could get as much personal media attention as possible. There are ways to fight corruption and Mr. Chuwit's methods are not effective. If he was serious, he'd stop looking for the spotlight and use his position to haul up the alleged corrupt officials before his committee and ask for answers to his questions.

Edited July 5, 2012 by geriatrickid

[nurofiend]

I am told the top Bangkok Casinos service 3,000 customers a day, each spending on average 30,000bt.

The local cop shop gets a % of the daily take.

It is a miracle that Chuwit is still alive.

it's ok though, he's only focused on one of them.

you know as much as i do that gambling itself isn't his real issue here!

[Moruya]

Just how deep is this government's involvement here?

Shinawatra, Damapong, Yoobamrung?

[nurofiend]

Just how deep is this government's involvement here?

Shinawatra, Damapong, Yoobamrung?

thaksin was dealing the cards

[thaicbr]

Why didn't Chuwit go to the police station and make a formal complaint and provide evidence? With his statement and evidence, the police would have consulted with the prosecutor's office and then if the evidence justified further action, a search warrant would have been obtained and the police could have raided the premises. That is how the legal system works in Thailand. It's also how it works in Australia, the UK, and the USA.

I don't quite understand how some people are all in favour of a police raid without a proper search warrant. Do they not realize that without a proper search warrant, the police cannot enter a private dwelling? Charges arising from an illegal search are summarily dismissed in court.

Oh sure, some will say, but "they" would have tipped off the gamblers. Well, not if the great Chuwit had actually followed the legally accepted procedures. Had there been a tipoff, then he could have pursued the matter in his capacity as deputy chair of the House committee on police affairs and taken a bite out of the police officals whom he alleged were corrupt and tipped off the gambling den. Instead, Chuwit took the publicity route and made sure he could get as much personal media attention as possible. There are ways to fight corruption and Mr. Chuwit's methods are not effective. If he was serious, he'd stop looking for the spotlight and use his position to haul up the alleged corrupt officials before his committee and ask for answers to his questions.

How do we know he didn't do that!

We all know decent reporting In this country is lacking.

sent from my Wellcom A90+

[nurofiend]

as if he gives two shhh's about gambling!!!!

...people saying he's on a crusade

it's political mud slinging, there's nothing morally noble about his actions

[saltandpepper]

Why didn't Chuwit go to the police station and make a formal complaint and provide evidence? With his statement and evidence, the police would have consulted with the prosecutor's office and then if the evidence justified further action, a search warrant would have been obtained and the police could have raided the premises. That is how the legal system works in Thailand. It's also how it works in Australia, the UK, and the USA.

I don't quite understand how some people are all in favour of a police raid without a proper search warrant. Do they not realize that without a proper search warrant, the police cannot enter a private dwelling? Charges arising from an illegal search are summarily dismissed in court.

Oh sure, some will say, but "they" would have tipped off the gamblers. Well, not if the great Chuwit had actually followed the legally accepted procedures. Had there been a tipoff, then he could have pursued the matter in his capacity as deputy chair of the House committee on police affairs and taken a bite out of the police officals whom he alleged were corrupt and tipped off the gambling den. Instead, Chuwit took the publicity route and made sure he could get as much personal media attention as possible. There are ways to fight corruption and Mr. Chuwit's methods are not effective. If he was serious, he'd stop looking for the spotlight and use his position to haul up the alleged corrupt officials before his committee and ask for answers to his questions.

GK in wonderland!

[MunterHunter]

GK - Dreaming as usual

I can see that working really well;

Chuvit: Hello Sgt Somchai, you know that really profitable Casino you guys 'protect' in Bangkok and get a % of the profits to leave it alone, well i have evidence that it exists and you guys have to shut it down right now or i will goto the press with this information!

Sgt Somchai: Mr Chuvit, please step into this room and lets fill out the report...

<sound of door closing>

<Sound of gun being fired>

<Door Opens>

Sgt Somchai: Hey, you two, yeah you cadets... come here, help me hide this body.

[geriatrickid]

this guy's such a moron.

Politics does make strange bedfellows:

Red Hero: Victor Bout, who sells weapons to the highest bidder

Red Villain: Chuwit, who crusades against corruption.

Why is Viktor Bout a red hero? Many of the UDD's more "left" oriented members spoke out against him. There was the issue of arming the perpetrators of the slaughter in Sierra Leone and Liberia that upset many people.

[pauljones]

Just how deep is this government's involvement here?

Shinawatra, Damapong, Yoobamrung?

These operations have backers above the police and military and have been running for decades.

[smutcakes]

mmm yeah.. nice one yunla

completely based on reality, as usual...

No but I was reacting to you calling this guy a "moron", I think it takes guts to go out there and face the oligarchs at the top, and their crime interests. I personally don't have the courage or the stamina to go out there and do what he does, but when I see somebody else doing that I don't call them a moron, because I'm just another anonymous keyboard gandalf myself.

i was calling him a moron for making such a moronic comment yunla..

but.. ok yunla

To be fair, he is a bit of a moron. If he wasn't he would have recorded and provided all of the evidence to the police prior to going public and looking for a bit of publicity. There is no point having it published all over the papers and then ask the police to go there!

Regardless, there is no way they will stop the gambling- police gamble, military gamble, politicians gamble, civilians gamble, people in all walks of life gamble. On the grand scheme of things it is not really very important- and will go on and has gone on under any Governement. I wish Chuwit would spend more time investigating large scale contract corruptions and the like.

[geriatrickid]

GK - Dreaming as usual

I can see that working really well;

Chuvit: Hello Sgt Somchai, you know that really profitable Casino you guys 'protect' in Bangkok and get a % of the profits to leave it alone, well i have evidence that it exists and you guys have to shut it down right now or i will goto the press with this information!

Sgt Somchai: Mr Chuvit, please step into this room and lets fill out the report...

<sound of door closing>

<Sound of gun being fired>

<Door Opens>

Sgt Somchai: Hey, you two, yeah you cadets... come here, help me hide this body.

On the contrary, you are the dreamer. If you think that the police would have killed Mr. Chuwit for bringing charges, you are wrong. He could have made sure that it was documented when he went to the police and he could have reached out to the prosecutor's office well before that.You also forget that he sits on the police oversight committee. Why hasn't he used his position to initiate effective action? Why a personal press conference and not a more effective direct action? Has it occurred to you, that maybe he isn't concerned about the gambling den? This is all about positioning himself as the only honest politician in Thailand. I believe that the man actually believes that the "people" will come to him and ask him to run the country.

[saltandpepper]

GK - Dreaming as usual

I can see that working really well;

Chuvit: Hello Sgt Somchai, you know that really profitable Casino you guys 'protect' in Bangkok and get a % of the profits to leave it alone, well i have evidence that it exists and you guys have to shut it down right now or i will goto the press with this information!

Sgt Somchai: Mr Chuvit, please step into this room and lets fill out the report...

<sound of door closing>

<Sound of gun being fired>

<Door Opens>

Sgt Somchai: Hey, you two, yeah you cadets... come here, help me hide this body.

On the contrary, you are the dreamer. If you think that the police would have killed Mr. Chuwit for bringing charges, you are wrong. He could have made sure that it was documented when he went to the police and he could have reached out to the prosecutor's office well before that.You also forget that he sits on the police oversight committee. Why hasn't he used his position to initiate effective action? Why a personal press conference and not a more effective direct action? Has it occurred to you, that maybe he isn't concerned about the gambling den? This is all about positioning himself as the only honest politician in Thailand. I believe that the man actually believes that the "people" will come to him and ask him to run the country.

They would not have killed Chuwit of course.... But they would definitely not have done anything, and walked away with it as usual....especially if his claims are somehow true

[geriatrickid]

GK - Dreaming as usual

I can see that working really well;

Chuvit: Hello Sgt Somchai, you know that really profitable Casino you guys 'protect' in Bangkok and get a % of the profits to leave it alone, well i have evidence that it exists and you guys have to shut it down right now or i will goto the press with this information!

Sgt Somchai: Mr Chuvit, please step into this room and lets fill out the report...

<sound of door closing>

<Sound of gun being fired>

<Door Opens>

Sgt Somchai: Hey, you two, yeah you cadets... come here, help me hide this body.

On the contrary, you are the dreamer. If you think that the police would have killed Mr. Chuwit for bringing charges, you are wrong. He could have made sure that it was documented when he went to the police and he could have reached out to the prosecutor's office well before that.You also forget that he sits on the police oversight committee. Why hasn't he used his position to initiate effective action? Why a personal press conference and not a more effective direct action? Has it occurred to you, that maybe he isn't concerned about the gambling den? This is all about positioning himself as the only honest politician in Thailand. I believe that the man actually believes that the "people" will come to him and ask him to run the country.

They would not have killed Chuwit of course.... But they would definitely not have done anything, and walked away with it as usual....especially if his claims are somehow true

And if they had not acted on his substantiated allegation, then Mr. Chuwit in his position of Deputy Chairman of the oversight committee could have taken action and nailed multiple corrupt officials to the wall. It would have been the perfect opportunity to do that. Instead, he opted for a public event, an event which he knew would not do anything to catch the gambling den operators or corrupt officials aiding and abetting the illegal activity. This was all about Mr. Chuwit getting some publicity.