Four police linked to online gambling gang surrender

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Four police linked to online gambling gang surrender
Jessada Chantharak
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation


Four out of nine policemen report themselves to the Phaholyothin Police Station yesterday to face charges over allegations that they took bribes from a big online gambling operator.

Five more told to face charges, as Pongpat undergoes heart surgery

BANGKOK: -- Four commissioned policemen yesterday turned themselves in to face charges related to claims they took bribes from an online gambling organisation.

A gambling network allegedly run by Abubakar bin Sulaiman is said to have links with ousted crime-buster Lt General Pongpat Chayaphan.

The four police were identified as Pol Lt Colonel Wattana Phon-ngarn-dee, Pol Major Apisit Mekprayoon, Captain Nitipat Kangruambut and Captain Sakkarin Kaysorntien.

"They are now charged with taking bribes and corrupt negligence," Metropolitan Police Division 2's deputy commander Pol Colonel Chayut Marayart said yesterday.

He oversees the investigation into alleged bribe taking by police who participated in a 2009 crackdown on the so-called Abubakar gang. Pongpat reportedly led police to arrest an Indian businessman here five years ago on suspicion that the suspect was involved in an online gambling organisation with turnover of billions of baht.

Chayut said all the four suspects who turned themselves in yesterday denied any wrongdoing.

Following their surrender, police took them to their homes to conduct searches. Police can detain the four suspects for 48 hours in line with the law, but further detention requires permission from a court.

Relatives of the men are plan to post bail for them.

These four police are among 14 suspects for whom arrest warrants were issued last Wednesday over charges related to the bribe taking scandal related to the Abubakar gang.

Nine of these suspects are police. They were told to report themselves by December 29 or face arrest.

An informed source said the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief had already contacted the supervisors of the other five wanted police suspects to arrange for their surrender.

In related news, Pongpat was transferred out of the Central Chest Institute yesterday back to the Medical Correctional Institution, where he underwent a "balloon" heart surgery on Saturday. When Pongpat was at the institute, there was huge police presence.

The transfer took place, after doctors agreed that Pongpat's health conditions were good enough.

Pongpat has been in detention since last month.

"He has records of high-blood pressure. But his chest pain was likely acute," Special Remand Prison chief Ayut Sintopphan said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Four-police-linked-to-online-gambling-gang-surrend-30250862.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-29

[Sirpia]

The clean out and eradication of anyone associated with He Who Was Just Deleted From The History Books continues.

Exiled, every democratically elected proxy removed, name deleted from the history books, all associates being taken down and locked up, a fine time for the elite and a message to anyone else trying to take their power, this trough is ours and ours only! Try to get a share at your peril!

[The Deerhunter]

The clean out and eradication of anyone associated with He Who Was Just Deleted From The History Books continues.

Exiled, every democratically elected proxy removed, name deleted from the history books, all associates being taken down and locked up, a fine time for the elite and a message to anyone else trying to take their power, this trough is ours and ours only! Try to get a share at your peril!

If we presume that these people ARE actually involved in the crimes they are being accused of, (and not being framed - set up), then any criticism or sympathy for their arrest is misguided. Regarding their social or family connections, we should remember that they would have been relying on any such genuine connections to ensure they never got into any trouble as a result of being involved in serious criminal activities. In which case, "Good, you had it coming." If you are right, then the fact that the protection was removed and they were left exposed instead of protected is a good thing. Thailand has too many corrupt officials. If it scares and dissuades other officials from a duplicitous life of crime, then good, again. Build more prison cells in the meantime from the proceeds of seized criminal assets.

All I am hoping for is that if they really did the crime, that they really do the time, AND lose all their ill gotten gains. And, that the powers-that-be keep looking for more corrupt officials like this, with or without family or social protection, whoever and where-ever they are.

If the charges are genuine, let the clean out continue.

[tracker1]

Transferred to inactive posts !!!!!

[ggold]

The clean out and eradication of anyone associated with He Who Was Just Deleted From The History Books continues.

Exiled, every democratically elected proxy removed, name deleted from the history books, all associates being taken down and locked up, a fine time for the elite and a message to anyone else trying to take their power, this trough is ours and ours only! Try to get a share at your peril!

So far they are only going for the corruption within the police, I will believe this is a real fight against corruption when they start to arrest the politicians who are at the head of these corrupt enterprises. Particularly those politicians who were supposedly in charge of eradicating illegal gambling in the last government!