Thai police continue efforts to eliminate gambling and extortion

[webfact]

Officials continue efforts to eliminate gambling and extortion

BANGKOK, 13 June 2014, (NNT) -The Deputy Commissioner General, Police General Ake Angsananont has reported that the police have apprehended several extortionists illegally working for loan sharks, collecting debts from desperate financially troubled citizens.

The police campaign came as a result of an instruction from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that forbids debt collectors from charging unfair interest rates and making threats to rice growers and various other residents who owe them money. Police had received several complaints about the matter.

He said officials have arrested 23 suspects, while seizing several bank accounts, financial statements, client lists, 17 motorbikes and two cars during the operation.

Police General Ake also touched on the policy of the Royal Thai Police and the NCPO on gambling eradication, saying that operations such as the recent swoops on premises housing gambling machines in Bang Khen and Nong Chok districts in Bangkok would continue.

He stressed that the owners of the equipment are subjected to punishment by law regardless of whether they are operating a casino.

-- NNT 2014-06-13

[Tatsujin]

Cool, the Police will be arresting themselves as they are one of the biggest "mafia" around in Thailand with fingers in every pie.

[Hawk]

Haven't the police been trying to eliminate gambling etc for the past 50 years or more? Not very successful are they!

[Jim walker]

Only allowed to gamble on the Soi lucky numbers now they are always a sure winner, so has the Junta arrested many police for then extortion rackets that they run from motorists along with all their other arrest scams pay the cash and get out of jail free.

[davidmann]

Cool, the Police will be arresting themselves as they are one of the biggest "mafia" around in Thailand with fingers in every pie.

Good Its True in our Area all crime is run by the police and there quite proud of it

[mrfill]

I bet they won't get rid of gambling

[belg]

maybe if they had a number people could call to complain about this, so they can pick up the loansharks or at least set them up in a way

[Emster23]

23 sharks down, 100,000 to go. Get on it with a quickness, please

[Kalserud]

Noticed that the Royal Thai Police have blocked the site LiveScore Soccer / http://www.livescore.com/

but I can still use the app SofaScore to check results from the World Cup football matches or other sports.

[Neeranam]

Strangely, the 2 casinos on my soi, owned by a senior policeman are closed today, the one day I waned to make a bet.

I wonder if they could arrest those betting in police operated betting shops?

[Jimbolai]

Wow, it sounds like some people, OK just a few, do not have full confidence in the police?

[Chris Lawrence]

Some of the extortion happens right under their noses, down at the courts?

[EyesWideOpen]

Wow, it sounds like some people, OK just a few, do not have full confidence in the police?

That viewpoint is pretty much based upon the length of time you have been in Thailand.

If you just got off the jet, the police sort of look like police as they have uniforms and badges.

However if you have been here a long time, and read endless stories of police running

drugs, casinos, and performing contract killings, then your view of them becomes

dimmer and dimmer, to the point where they are actually seen as criminals committing

crimes, rather than as a force to stop crime...

Edited June 13, 2014 by EyesWideOpen

[Robby nz]

Cool, the Police will be arresting themselves as they are one of the biggest "mafia" around in Thailand with fingers in every pie.

There already has, in this short time, been several top cops shunted aside including the top man.

If what I read elsewhere is correct there have also been some charges laid.

This will not have gone unnoticed and no doubt some will be wondering who will be next.

Neither has there been anything recently heard of Chalerm and Tarit who I suspect will be in for special attention from the NACC and other agencies.

[Neeranam]

Wow, it sounds like some people, OK just a few, do not have full confidence in the police?

That viewpoint is pretty much based upon the length of time you have been in Thailand.

If you just got off the jet, the police sort of look like police as they have uniforms and badges.

However if you have been here a long time, and read endless stories of police running

drugs, casinos, and performing contract killings, then your view of them becomes

dimmer and dimmer, to the point where they are actually seen as criminals committing

crimes, rather than as a force to stop crime...

Indeed, well put. Recently, I had dinner with one deputy commander, and four provincial police chiefs - I felt like I was sitting with the Sopranos, I couldn't get away quick enough.

[Acharn]

Haven't the police been trying to eliminate gambling etc for the past 50 years or more? Not very successful are they!

Depends what you mean by success. I believe all laws like this are proposed by the police in the first place in order to make money through "protection." That was the case, for example, of the law in New York against "off-track betting" (betting on horse races at places away from the actual race track). The New York Police Department's Office of the Chief had a separate section of Detectives especially to go around and pick up the payments from the betting agents (in America we call them "bookies" or "bookmakers"). When I was living in Phanat Nikhom in Chon Buri province, my wife and her friends used to play cards at home. Yes, they were playing for money, not much. From time to time the police would get a tip from some nosy neighbor and swoop down and arrest all the ladies, who then had to pay a fine. I have to note that no receipt was ever given for those "fines" even though they were paid at the police station, so the money was "off the books." That's mostly what the police do to "combat gambling."

[Acharn]

Cool, the Police will be arresting themselves as they are one of the biggest "mafia" around in Thailand with fingers in every pie.

There already has, in this short time, been several top cops shunted aside including the top man.

If what I read elsewhere is correct there have also been some charges laid.

This will not have gone unnoticed and no doubt some will be wondering who will be next.

Neither has there been anything recently heard of Chalerm and Tarit who I suspect will be in for special attention from the NACC and other agencies.

Yes, I've been wondering whatever happened to the noxious Suthep. Perhaps he's getting treatment for his megalomania.

At the risk of being invited to visit the nearby military garrison, I must say that what I've seen in past coups does not inspire me with great confidence that all the officers running things are idealistic and altruistic. The National Peace Keeping Council was embarrassing. Some of those after October 6, 1976, were worse.

[kimamey]

Cool, the Police will be arresting themselves as they are one of the biggest "mafia" around in Thailand with fingers in every pie.

There already has, in this short time, been several top cops shunted aside including the top man.

If what I read elsewhere is correct there have also been some charges laid.

This will not have gone unnoticed and no doubt some will be wondering who will be next.

Neither has there been anything recently heard of Chalerm and Tarit who I suspect will be in for special attention from the NACC and other agencies.

Yes, I've been wondering whatever happened to the noxious Suthep. Perhaps he's getting treatment for his megalomania.

At the risk of being invited to visit the nearby military garrison, I must say that what I've seen in past coups does not inspire me with great confidence that all the officers running things are idealistic and altruistic. The National Peace Keeping Council was embarrassing. Some of those after October 6, 1976, were worse.

I don't know where Suthep is at this moment but this may help on his recent activities.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/732950-suthep-defends-his-riot-control-role-in-2010/

[VINCENT2012]

gambling like prostitution and drug will never be eradicate......it is in the human blood ....and there is lots of money to earn too.

[surangw]

each time this happens the cost of doing "business" goes up

[englishoak]

Eliminate Gambling ? in Asia ???

Reduce it somewhat ? sure but not by much, eliminate it ? not a chance.

More chance of Thailand having its own space program

[Chris Lawrence]

How much would a casino licence cost in Thailand; one in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai? The General could make up the cost of selling rice by granting a licence in one of 4 places in Thailand. Gambling happens so why not make money out of it and then use the revenue for the economy. May even cut cost in Policing in Thailand?

[doctorproc156]

It is impossible to eliminate gambling just as it is impossible to eliminate drugs.

[Robby nz]

Cool, the Police will be arresting themselves as they are one of the biggest "mafia" around in Thailand with fingers in every pie.

There already has, in this short time, been several top cops shunted aside including the top man.

If what I read elsewhere is correct there have also been some charges laid.

This will not have gone unnoticed and no doubt some will be wondering who will be next.

Neither has there been anything recently heard of Chalerm and Tarit who I suspect will be in for special attention from the NACC and other agencies.

Yes, I've been wondering whatever happened to the noxious Suthep. Perhaps he's getting treatment for his megalomania.

At the risk of being invited to visit the nearby military garrison, I must say that what I've seen in past coups does not inspire me with great confidence that all the officers running things are idealistic and altruistic. The National Peace Keeping Council was embarrassing. Some of those after October 6, 1976, were worse.

Suthep who is only noxious to the reds and PT who he outwitted has been visiting and raising money to help those who were injured by the bullets and grenades fired at the protesters by those who, going by the arrests and arms seized, are allied to the reds and by extension to the previous PT Govt.

Unlike all the red leaders who, it would seem, have done nothing to help anyone but themselves.

Neither has your lovely Yingluck, who is reportedly back shopping at luxury malls, done anything to help anyone.

As for history, forget it and look at what the military has done in the last 3 weeks and look forward to the improvements that will without a doubt emerge in the not to distant future.

Improvements that will lead to a better Thailand for all.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Robby nz