British-led Card Room raided by officials in South Pattaya

[smedly]

Sorry to spoil your fun but my wife called me to the TV this morning to watch this news item. A LOT of money was found on the premises which is why there were 50 friends and helpers investigating.

Its a restaurant, they sell food and drink. Most of any money would be theirs.

The rented space would contain no money related to the bridge players since its duplicate bridge, played by almost every country in the world, where there is no gambling involved.

There might have been a small amount that is collected before the game from each player to pay expenses.

I imagine (and hope) that you are correct. The fact remains that there must be a compelling reason for over 50 police to have turned up.

they obviously thought it was a gambling den, I doubt very much that Thai police would have a clue what the card game bridge actually is, they see cards and automatically assume gambling

It is narrow minded stupidity on a scale I have never encounter here before

[elgordo38]

50 Officers? where were the other two? A deck has 52 cards so its obvious the cops were not playing with a full deck.

[stoli]

Let them all hang. This is just as bad as reading tea leaves, apparently. Public execution on Beach Road.

[Blue Muton]

Is it April 1st already? It must be April 1st! I mean, fifty of them? Did they have helicopter gunship support?

No, apparently they arrived in a big shiny new submarine.

[elgordo38]

Hmm. I just played in this. High end hotel in Bangkok. Some very influential Thai players.

I guess we were all breaking the law, same with the weekly games at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

There's even a That Bridge Society.

I suspect the charge will be dropped when the appropriate phone call is made.

http://www.thailandbridgeleague.com/asean/index.php?mode=participants

Forget the phone call the damage has already been done. The officer who ordered this fiasco should be transferred or put on unpaid leave. It would be nice if this was picked up by all the foreign press. They could feature it right next to Peanuts in the comics. I have been here some 5 years now and well this tops the gut buster list for me. I guess now there are only 599 unsolved crimes left for the BIB to "solve"

[MorristheRunt]

Why is the same man power and urgency not used on the jet ski and many other scams in Pataya and Thailand in general?

I would hope it's not due to the nationality of the people involved!

[elgordo38]

I am one of the bridgpplayers who was detained.

The charges of gambling have been dropped. There was no money involved.

There were no prizes.

The event is known as a "club duplicate pairs" and is played in small clubs all over the world.I will write more when I get home from the police station.

When you get home from the police station? Incredible that you even had to go there.

[Puccini]

This actually made the national TV news, even had the police video. A bunch of confused old folks playing Bridge.

Unclear what crime was committed, anyone know?

Two crimes were allegedly committed. Serious crimes:

1. An individual was in possession of more than 120 playing cards.
2. The playing card boxes did not have the official government seal.

The police are still scouring through the laws issued over the past few hundred years to see if there are other violations of any law. This will obviously take some time.

[arunsakda]

As a non player I had no idea of the restrictions on playing cards. First time I rode the TG A380 was given a promotional Thai A380 pack, marked "For export Only". So I looked it up and a, makes no sense whatsoever. Still have it, unopened. Meanwhile the Kingdom is overrun with all manner of gambling and criminality.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited February 4, 2016 by arunsakda

[alien365]

Just a gentle reminder: don't forget it's illegal here to leave the house with no underwear on. If they were struggling to find a law they had broken then it could have been off with their breeches next.

[The Deerhunter]

It's ok to trivialise it, but what starts off as 1 or 2 hands a night can soon reach 6 or 7, or in some cases even more. I hope they get locked away for a very long time.

Sounds like you need to get out more.

Sarcasm not understood??????????????

[blinddodger]

Bugger! closed down eh? that's spoiled my Sunday afternoon kalooki game.Now! that's a real card game.Does anyone on TV know how to play it????

Don't you use 2 packs of cards for that game sounds highly illegal lol

[Transporter]

I want to comment but I cant stop laughing at how ridiculous this is.

[riverhigh]

Hmm. I just played in this. High end hotel in Bangkok. Some very influential Thai players.

I guess we were all breaking the law, same with the weekly games at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

There's even a That Bridge Society.

I suspect the charge will be dropped when the appropriate phone call is made.

http://www.thailandbridgeleague.com/asean/index.php?mode=participants

This has happened before when the Pattaya Bridge club was run by Terry who has since passed away. The digging up the 1935 law of 120 playing cards is just a ridiculous exercise of saving face. Police could of said it was just a case of misinformation and left it at that. All the same thanks for the link. Its a pity that the Pattaya Police cannot apply their zeal for justice to the Jet Ski scammers where real crime is taking place.

[Antifreeze]

Incredible!!

"... No money was changing hands, however the officers scoured the law books and found an offense..."

[blinddodger]

The thai magician at the Tuxedo magic show in Pattaya gets through dozens of packs of cards a performance, clearly breaking the law, hope the boys in blue are preparing their next raid, be funny when they try and put the handcuffs on and lock him up.

[salavan]

just look at therm hardened criminals b+++++ds

[Basil B]

... however the officers scoured the law books and found an offense was being committed

A Trumped Up Charge...

Maybe they should arrest the following persons:

• Somchai BAISAMUT
• Kridsadayut Plengsap
• Virat Chinmanas
• Chaitad Suriya
• Esther C. Sophonpanich
• Chalermpol WONGWAIWIT
• Piya THONGDHAMMACHAT
• Wanchai DANWACHIRA
• Pramoul Ang-Kaew
• Terasak Jitngamkusol
• Patnarin Kitchakarn
• Pornthep Leelasa-Nguan
• Kirawat Limsinsopon
• Sunisa Vatanasuk
• Pichai Nimityongskul
• Pravati Silabhusiddhi
• Adisorn Kiatchokewiwat
• Panjaroon Jariyanuntanate
• Apisai Makmitree
• Sunai Thiengtham

(more names where those came from)

They all represent Thailand in the World Bridge Federation, "an international sports federation recognised by the IOC".

Edited February 4, 2016 by Basil B

[Yann55]

Get those scum bag Farangs.

Throw them in Jail, give them very heavy fines, deport them , and black list them for 99 years.

The Pattaya Pantomime, just gets more funny every week.

Wonder who the pleasant person was who grassed on them and why ? must have been a right story that one

The bust of the century.

You have every right to be sarcastic, and yes, the whole episode is both hilarious and pathetic, but let's have a thought of deep sympathy for the 74 year-old guy who actually got arrested. Being arrested in this country is not something I would ever want to go through, whatever the reasons.

As for the guy who ratted out on them, let's just say that, once you've spent a few years in this country, you learn that grassing up is nothing short of a national sport, and it's a sad, disconcerting discovery.

Why are so many Thais prone to do that ?

There must be more than one factor but I'd say that the main one stems from a very rigid pyramidal society where each degree has very little room for independance and must kowtow to those on the degrees above. Humiliation is constant, and must be covered up with a smile, even though it is a very painful experience for all Asians, known as 'losing face'.

The resulting accumulated frustration is unfathomable. Ratting out people is one of the meanest forms of revenge. Many, if not most Thais, suffer from both a superiority and inferiority complex with regard to white people (whereas most white people have only the former with regard to non-whites). Every single white business owner I have met in Thailand was grassed out at least once by one or several Thais (staff, neighbors, family, 'friends'), and they have a field day because doing business in this country 100% by the book is near impossible, so there is always one or more points where you just have to 'make do'. These 'loopholes' ought to be called 'wells of corruption', and the combination of grassing out and corruption is a highly stinky one.

Welcome to Thailand, brave entrepreneurs !

Edited February 4, 2016 by Yann55

[4u2mad]

That's it then, No more playing Happy Families

[jinners]

those in charge must be sooooo proud. After all, there's nothing more important, a higher priority or more likely to make Pattaya safer and function better than having 50 law enforcement make a raid on these elderly individuals taking part in a no money change hands game of cards! And the informant must be doubly proud knowing his/her duty has been done.

PATHETIC

[emilymat]

Up against the wall gramps!

Spread 'em!

-------

Crimony this is stupid.

Was the poor old guy accused of concealing a 'dead weapon'?

No.....he's required to explain the 'dummy' hand!

[johncat1]

I am one of the bridgpplayers who was detained.

The charges of gambling have been dropped. There was no money involved.

There were no prizes.

The event is known as a "club duplicate pairs" and is played in small clubs all over the world.I will write more when I get home from the police station.

Please post your experience in the Pattaya Forum, as opposed to replying here, where it will get buried and 95% of us will never see it.

Thanks!

Better still send your story to a British Newspaper Together with this link

[JGV]

Thought it was April 1st but no Amazing Thailand strikes again

[BrainLife]

I am not going to read all 11 TV pages now. My guess is every post will say just about the same.

Just wondering where the 160.000baht (32farangsx5000bahtfine/bail) will go.

Did somebody needed to pay-up on his mortgage or car, because that is the only reason I have think of for doing this.

[Baerboxer]

The British Club in Bangkok hold Bridge sessions.

It's not Gambling!

Exactly - another den of iniquity indulging in illegal activities. The rich colonial types she scant disregard for the laws of countries they once sort to dominate and corrupting the morals of pure innocent minded Thais. Off with their heads!

Returning to reality, which is something the BiB could never do as they've never been there, I read the President of the Thai Bridge Association went to explain things to the chief cop. I believe he his a very senior gentleman from a senior family. That conversation must have been very interesting as by what the BiB say every bridge club in Thailand is breaking the law.

Look for some really silly face saving words coming out from the BiB very soon.

[vogie]

Get those scum bag Farangs.

Throw them in Jail, give them very heavy fines, deport them , and black list them for 99 years.

The Pattaya Pantomime, just gets more funny every week.

Wonder who the pleasant person was who grassed on them and why ? must have been a right story that one

The bust of the century.

You have every right to be sarcastic, and yes, the whole episode is both hilarious and pathetic, but let's have a thought of deep sympathy for the 74 year-old guy who actually got arrested. Being arrested in this country is not something I would ever want to go through, whatever the reasons.

As for the guy who ratted out on them, let's just say that, once you've spent a few years in this country, you learn that grassing up is nothing short of a national sport, and it's a sad, disconcerting discovery.

Why are so many Thais prone to do that ?

There must be more than one factor but I'd say that the main one stems from a very rigid pyramidal society where each degree has very little room for independance and must kowtow to those on the degrees above. Humiliation is constant, and must be covered up with a smile, even though it is a very painful experience for all Asians, known as 'losing face'.

The resulting accumulated frustration is unfathomable. Ratting out people is one of the meanest forms of revenge. Many, if not most Thais, suffer from both a superiority and inferiority complex with regard to white people (whereas most white people have only the former with regard to non-whites). Every single white business owner I have met in Thailand was grassed out at least once by one or several Thais (staff, neighbors, family, 'friends'), and they have a field day because doing business in this country 100% by the book is near impossible, so there is always one or more points where you just have to 'make do'. These 'loopholes' ought to be called 'wells of corruption', and the combination of grassing out and corruption is a highly stinky one.

Welcome to Thailand, brave entrepreneurs !

Oh dear, I think somebody needs a hug. ?

[Woody1]

Get those scum bag Farangs.

Throw them in Jail, give them very heavy fines, deport them , and black list them for 99 years.

The Pattaya Pantomime, just gets more funny every week.

Wonder who the pleasant person was who grassed on them and why ? must have been a right story that one

The bust of the century.

You have every right to be sarcastic, and yes, the whole episode is both hilarious and pathetic, but let's have a thought of deep sympathy for the 74 year-old guy who actually got arrested. Being arrested in this country is not something I would ever want to go through, whatever the reasons.

As for the guy who ratted out on them, let's just say that, once you've spent a few years in this country, you learn that grassing up is nothing short of a national sport, and it's a sad, disconcerting discovery.

Why are so many Thais prone to do that ?

There must be more than one factor but I'd say that the main one stems from a very rigid pyramidal society where each degree has very little room for independance and must kowtow to those on the degrees above. Humiliation is constant, and must be covered up with a smile, even though it is a very painful experience for all Asians, known as 'losing face'.

The resulting accumulated frustration is unfathomable. Ratting out people is one of the meanest forms of revenge. Many, if not most Thais, suffer from both a superiority and inferiority complex with regard to white people (whereas most white people have only the former with regard to non-whites). Every single white business owner I have met in Thailand was grassed out at least once by one or several Thais (staff, neighbors, family, 'friends'), and they have a field day because doing business in this country 100% by the book is near impossible, so there is always one or more points where you just have to 'make do'. These 'loopholes' ought to be called 'wells of corruption', and the combination of grassing out and corruption is a highly stinky one.

Welcome to Thailand, brave entrepreneurs !

Absolutely correct! Put an Asian in a uniform and just watch them go! Never mind the police, just look at parking attendants, or security guards, they honestly believe they are world powers.

Now amplify this X 100 when a Thai is given a uniform, whistle, a TITLE, a few daft medals that were never earned, and a bit of braiding, and you have all the ingredients for a little Hitler!!!

Also, virtually all (or most) motorbike taxi ranks will have one or more guy's working there with radios connected to police frequencies, and they love nothing more than grassing someone up! It's like a national pastime, where they think they have gained face.

Pathetic!!

Edited February 4, 2016 by Woody1

[Transporter]

I am one of the bridgpplayers who was detained.

The charges of gambling have been dropped. There was no money involved.

There were no prizes.

The event is known as a "club duplicate pairs" and is played in small clubs all over the world.I will write more when I get home from the police station.

When you get home from the police station? Incredible that you even had to go there.

Are there small casinos in villages all over Thailand? some staying open all night, Why is this allowed to continue? I have heard stories of Thai women who are married to wealthy farangs losing millions and having to sell their land and home to pay the debts unbeknown to the poor guy. Maybe its all just local gossip.

[Pattaya28]

Is "Monopoly" legal ?

It uses money.