Police to propose turning Taopoon casino to training field for special forces

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police is proposing the Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO) for permission to utilise the Taopoon casino compound either a field sub-police station of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), or a training centre for special forces in its effort to stop the one influential casino back to business once and for all.

The proposal was considered after a raid of the casino by soldiers from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) last Friday and put the issue at the forefront of talks, as many have raised speculations of why the casino could still operate when all of the owner’s assets have been seized by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and the case is still pending the Criminal Court’s verdict.

Although, no gamblers were found at the scene that day, authorities were able to impound numerous gambling equipment, including Baccarat tables, card decks, gambling notes, as well as equipment used for drugs and handguns and ammunition.

Earlier yesterday commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau also came out to deny the gambling den was operating at the time of the raid, insisting it was shut and no activities were there since it was last raided and closed four years ago.

For that last raid, the special force of the Metropolitan Police Bureau joined forces with AMLO, more than 200 gamblers and seized over 100 pieces of evidences.

At yesterday’s press conference, he said the gambling den was there but there was no activities. The equipments seized were left and kept there by residents in the den’s neighbourhood.

He also said five police officers of Taopoon police stations in charge of the area who had been immediately transferred after the soldiers led raid had been reinstated with no guilty of negligence of duties.

But Royal Thai Policy assistant commissioner and spokesperson Pol Lt Gen Prawuthi Thavornsiri said at another press conference that the location of the casino is situated in the middle of a populated community, surrounded by homes, while the casino itself is hidden behind a thick tall wall with barb wires and with one main thick iron gate for entrances and exits.

Therefore the Royal Thai Police has suggested that the location should be used as a training centre for special forces.

The casino compound has been impounded by AMLO and the case is in the court if it will be confiscated as state property.

He said police would watch over that location, and use it as another field police station in the community.

It will also serve as a location to take care of the people, preventing any illegal vices and drugs problems, as well as to further strengthen the relationship between the police and public, he said.

He said the sub-police station would be under the responsibility of the CIB, and will be known as the ‘CIB sub-police station.’

It would be in charge of solving gambling and drugs problems in the area, as well as ensure better safety for the surrounding community, he said.

Another idea has also been suggested that the location be used as a training ground for police special forces, like Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T), Commando, or any other relevant special forces to practice on special skills, such as rescuing hostages, or arresting drug syndicates.

The Royal Thai Police spokesperson expressed that if the location could utilise for good use, it would surely benefit local residents and society as a whole.

Meanwhile, AMLO secretary general Pol Lt Col Sihanart Prayoonrat has firmly agreed with the Royal Thai Police’s move in using the location to create benefits for the society.

“If the location is turned into a police station or office, it would help to solve problems in the area. I believe that it is a good action that the confiscated location could be used to create sustainable goodness there.”

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police-to-propose-turning-taopoon-casino-to-training-field-for-special-forces


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-05

What about a creche for local young mothers? What about a kindergarten school ran by the local people? What about a community centre for everyone? There are so many other options for this building in the middle of a community.

Another corrupt police station where they can sit on their arse's all day is not one of them.

Probably better to give it a license, employ people legally and take taxes from the proceeds. I personally do not enjoy enjoy gambling but many people do and it is a fantastic source of revenue as well as providing good employment prospects for thousands of people.

Just a small point - if, indeed, this casino was "............shut and no activities were there since it was last raided and closed four years ago", why was it necessary for the army to "raid" it last Friday?

What about a creche for local young mothers? What about a kindergarten school ran by the local people? What about a community centre for everyone? There are so many other options for this building in the middle of a community.

Another corrupt police station where they can sit on their arse's all day is not one of them.

I do agree with you there are so many things they could do.

As about the police sitting on their <deleted> all day......they can't anymore.

The army has planted nails on their chairs so their only option is to run around and pretend of doing something.

Wonder who suggested this new initiative.....couldn't possibly be someone that has an interest in this building.......??

No doubt it would be a good rental property for someone!!

Yes...I know....a bit cynical......

Edited March 5, 201511 yr by ChrisY1

"Earlier yesterday commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau also came out to deny the gambling den was operating at the time of the raid,

insisting it was shut and no activities were there since it was last raided and closed four years ago."

"...he said the gambling den was there but there was no activities."

Interesting that the suspiciously wealthy Police Chief Somyot's name becomes obscured.

No mention of him by name in this article while quoting him several times.

Probably better to give it a license, employ people legally and take taxes from the proceeds. I personally do not enjoy enjoy gambling but many people do and it is a fantastic source of revenue as well as providing good employment prospects for thousands of people.

Illegal gambling causes enough harm already. Too many Thais can't control their gambling.

"Another idea has also been suggested that the location be used as a training ground for police special forces, like Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T), Commando, or any other relevant special forces to practice on special skills, such as rescuing hostages, or arresting drug syndicates."

I'm sure the local community living around the casino would love that.

At yesterday’s press conference, he said the gambling den was there but there was no activities. The equipments seized were left and kept there by residents in the den’s neighbourhood.

THE EQUIPMENT SEIZED WERE LEFT AND KEPT THERE BY RESIDENTS IN THE DEN'S NEIGHBOURHOOD.

Bravo~

and now who owns the land ? Is the seller willing?

Although, no gamblers were found at the scene that day, authorities were able to impound numerous gambling equipment, including Baccarat tables, card decks, gambling notes, as well as equipment used for drugs and handguns and ammunition.

Earlier yesterday commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau also came out to deny the gambling den was operating at the time of the raid, insisting it was shut and no activities were there since it was last raided and closed four years ago ...

... he said the gambling den was there but there was no activities. The equipments seized were left and kept there by residents in the den’s neighbourhood.

Indeed, one can imagine the typical residents of the area would not want to clutter up their closets with their baccarat tables, handguns and drug equipment when temporarily not using them. It would be logical to store them in someone else's building. The AMLO no doubt gave them permission and the items were used for totally innocent purposes.