Has Pattaya bridge raid gone viral Please do let us know

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

This story is on every SEA forum and FB group page I'm a member of. Reaction ranges from head smacking to head smacking.

[stephenterry]

First they need to be able to read then understand, then translate, so forget it, it's impossible for any Thai.

just read .............

A German woman was the last offender in custody on Thursday, refusing to sign a gambling confession as a prerequisite to being granted bail for 5,000 baht (approximately $140).

I respect her because I feel like I should have done the same, but I didn't have the guts, said Watson, who did not hesitate to confess his role as ringleader.

Well if not a British granny then a German lady is just fine in my book

The document will almost certainly be in Thai, so she is quite right not to sign it.

Been there before myself, although not for card playing.

They will give you a verbal translation, but things can get lost in doing so.

By signing, you are admitting that you have read it in full, and understand it.

The usual casual TV racism, and not true. I know many Thai people who are perfectly capable of translating into English. My wife for example. I showed her your comment and her observation was "what a <deleted>!", so she can not only translate into English; she also knows some useful words!

I'm sure he's talking about RTP translator who may or may not be an out of work roti seller. If I get into trouble with the RTP can I ask your wife to translate, instead?

[teambum]

This morning on Thai news they were saying that a large amount of money had been found. That was wishful thinking (as in preprepared statement) I guess, but I does explain maybe why so many police turned up, I mean fair is fair, everybody should get a cut. They are no longer saying that.

The Thais can't imagine anyone playing without gambling.

(Edit, sorry, I got carried away). I heard it on two BBC news broadcasts.

In 5000 baht bundles.

[stephenterry]

The latest update is that the Pattaya police understand that they made a complete fool of themselves and that the paid bail money will be refunded to the people.

I do not believe it until I read it in the news and hear it from the bridge players themselves, I highly doubt they will get their money back .

"Bridge allows players to accumulate points rather than win money and Khunying Chodchoy vowed to fight any possible Court case in the future, on behalf of those arrested on Thursday, although one of the arrestees who does not wish to be named told Pattaya One that he was given verbal confirmation from the Police that the case will likely be dropped and the 5,000 Baht bail money each of the players paid will be returned."

Source: http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/221299/confusion-and-anger-at-pattaya-bridge-club-raid/

When I was in the RAF, we used to play bridge in the crew room. Often just for the fun of it. However, I have played for as much as £1 a hundred points. Simply keep the score sheets and settle up later. Bridge as a game can be entertaining and is mentally stimulating but it is "possible" to play the game for money...gambling. Only saying it's possible, not saying these people are guilty.

They were playing duplicate bridge, not rubber bridge. It's not gambling.

[hawker9000]

Cartoonists! How about a depiction of a typical thai photo-op with these bridge-playing seniors standing around with fingers pointed at the glumly seated 50 of Pattaya's finest!

On 2nd thought, there's probably one already floating around somewhere...

[toenail]

Come on farangs, give the boys in brown a break! Some "informer" told the police about a bunch of farangs meeting secretly once a week upstairs above a shop, with curtains all closed, playing with playing cards which in Thailand is associated with gambling. (I read it is an old law that one is to have a license from the police department to have playing cards). It is beyond the Thai's awareness that the children's card game Fish, Spoons, Rummey, Crazy Eights, War, or something more sophisticated such as the adult game of Bridge would be played without money (only points) with a deck of cards.

So, the Pattaya Police (not very sophisticated) decided to make this a photo-opportunity to show that the BIB are cracking down on corruption. Now, it is all over the international news as a joke.

The other joke is how these retired farangs were charge 5000 baht for playing cards illegally. Meanwhile how much does a "coconut ghost" or a gang of katoeys soliciting tourists get fined? 200 baht. What a joke.

[MyFriend You]

They have an international corruption table that lists Thailand as one of the worst developing countries for corruption and graft.

And these numpties believe it's a good idea to raid a bunch of old fogeys playing bridge on a sunny afternoon.

Would somebody please start a table of the most idiotic governments in the developing world - Thailand would win, and based on points, it would be a long way to second place.

And these prats actually uploaded the lunacy to Youtube themselves!! As if they think they did a smart thing!!

There's stupid, and then there's really stupid, but Baby, it just don't get any more stupid than this.

Must go, me and my mates are playing Texas holdem tonight and I can't be late as we use my chips. PM me for the address.

as they say, you can't fix stupid.

[MyFriend You]

Come on farangs, give the boys in brown a break! Some "informer" told the police about a bunch of farangs meeting secretly once a week upstairs above a shop, with curtains all closed, playing with playing cards which in Thailand is associated with gambling. (I read it is an old law that one is to have a license from the police department to have playing cards). It is beyond the Thai's awareness that the children's card game Fish, Spoons, Rummey, Crazy Eights, War, or something more sophisticated such as the adult game of Bridge would be played without money (only points) with a deck of cards.

So, the Pattaya Police (not very sophisticated) decided to make this a photo-opportunity to show that the BIB are cracking down on corruption. Now, it is all over the international news as a joke.

The other joke is how these retired farangs were charge 5000 baht for playing cards illegally. Meanwhile how much does a "coconut ghost" or a gang of katoeys soliciting tourists get fined? 200 baht. What a joke.

I actually had to show my passport to buy a deck of playing cards in the 7-11 store on Soi 11............I suppose the BIB thought "Bridge" was a secret code word for High Stakes Poker.............

[WitawatWatawit]

Come on farangs, give the boys in brown a break! Some "informer" told the police about a bunch of farangs meeting secretly once a week upstairs above a shop, with curtains all closed, playing with playing cards which in Thailand is associated with gambling. (I read it is an old law that one is to have a license from the police department to have playing cards). It is beyond the Thai's awareness that the children's card game Fish, Spoons, Rummey, Crazy Eights, War, or something more sophisticated such as the adult game of Bridge would be played without money (only points) with a deck of cards.

So, the Pattaya Police (not very sophisticated) decided to make this a photo-opportunity to show that the BIB are cracking down on corruption. Now, it is all over the international news as a joke.

The other joke is how these retired farangs were charge 5000 baht for playing cards illegally. Meanwhile how much does a "coconut ghost" or a gang of katoeys soliciting tourists get fined? 200 baht. What a joke.

No! No breaks for the BIBs. Barely a day goes by without them doing something wrong and bringing shame to their country. There is a sickness within the police force, and it's a major reason for this country not being able to advance. They are the source of a lot of the country's ills, and as Interpol said, they are an organised crime gang. You may want to sit around the campfire and sing Kumbaya, but everyone else has to face reality.

[jesimps]

The latest update is that the Pattaya police understand that they made a complete fool of themselves and that the paid bail money will be refunded to the people.

I do not believe it until I read it in the news and hear it from the bridge players themselves, I highly doubt they will get their money back .

"Bridge allows players to accumulate points rather than win money and Khunying Chodchoy vowed to fight any possible Court case in the future, on behalf of those arrested on Thursday, although one of the arrestees who does not wish to be named told Pattaya One that he was given verbal confirmation from the Police that the case will likely be dropped and the 5,000 Baht bail money each of the players paid will be returned."

Source: http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/221299/confusion-and-anger-at-pattaya-bridge-club-raid/

When I was in the RAF, we used to play bridge in the crew room. Often just for the fun of it. However, I have played for as much as £1 a hundred points. Simply keep the score sheets and settle up later. Bridge as a game can be entertaining and is mentally stimulating but it is "possible" to play the game for money...gambling. Only saying it's possible, not saying these people are guilty.

It's also possible to gamble on two flies walking up a wall but I don't see them banning flies.

Basically, you can gamble on anything but cards are used in casinos and are normally associated with gambling.

Unfortunately, Thais can't imagine anyone playing cards for fun.

[balo]

ekstrabladet.dk/112/thailand-32...bridge/5938676 In the Danish papers as well.

And Norwegian VG : vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/thailand/bbc-norske-turister-arrestert-i-pattaya

[Toknarok]

Omar Sharif is spinning in his grave.

[connda]

This morning on Thai news they were saying that a large amount of money had been found. That was wishful thinking (as in preprepared statement) I guess, but I does explain maybe why so many police turned up, I mean fair is fair, everybody should get a cut. They are no longer saying that.

The Thais can't imagine anyone playing without gambling.

(Edit, sorry, I got carried away). I heard it on two BBC news broadcasts.

Have 35 Bridge playing senior citizens dump the contents of their wallets and handbags, and I'd expect the total sum of money will exceed 100K THB. WOW!!! A lot of money!!! What 3K THB each? Big whoop.

[connda]

Don't know about you, but ISIS/ISIL/Daesh don't scare me at all.

But elderly Contract Bridge players??? Lordy, they all give me the whillys. It's the stuff of nightmares!

[jesimps]

First they need to be able to read then understand, then translate, so forget it, it's impossible for any Thai.

just read .............

A German woman was the last offender in custody on Thursday, refusing to sign a gambling confession as a prerequisite to being granted bail for 5,000 baht (approximately $140).

I respect her because I feel like I should have done the same, but I didn't have the guts, said Watson, who did not hesitate to confess his role as ringleader.

Well if not a British granny then a German lady is just fine in my book

The document will almost certainly be in Thai, so she is quite right not to sign it.

Been there before myself, although not for card playing.

They will give you a verbal translation, but things can get lost in doing so.

By signing, you are admitting that you have read it in full, and understand it.

The usual casual TV racism, and not true. I know many Thai people who are perfectly capable of translating into English. My wife for example. I showed her your comment and her observation was "what a <deleted>!", so she can not only translate into English; she also knows some useful words!

I don't believe you. Nothing racist about the above it's spot on. My Thai wife's a university educated English teacher of many years, yet when I ask her to translate a document for me she gives me the Swahili version. I can usually extract the bare bones but it's far from an accurate translation, which would be vital if you were signing a confession.

[thaiduncankk]

First they need to be able to read then understand, then translate, so forget it, it's impossible for any Thai.

just read .............

A German woman was the last offender in custody on Thursday, refusing to sign a gambling confession as a prerequisite to being granted bail for 5,000 baht (approximately $140).

I respect her because I feel like I should have done the same, but I didn't have the guts, said Watson, who did not hesitate to confess his role as ringleader.

Well if not a British granny then a German lady is just fine in my book

The document will almost certainly be in Thai, so she is quite right not to sign it.

Been there before myself, although not for card playing.

They will give you a verbal translation, but things can get lost in doing so.

By signing, you are admitting that you have read it in full, and understand it.

The usual casual TV racism, and not true. I know many Thai people who are perfectly capable of translating into English. My wife for example. I showed her your comment and her observation was "what a <deleted>!", so she can not only translate into English; she also knows some useful words!

Your wife can translate conversational Thai to English, but I am sorry, when it comes to legal matters, and the terminology used, I will guarantee she will struggle.

I took a friend with me, fluent in Thai, to the court. He can hold a conversation with any Thai person he meets.

When it came to understanding and translating the legal jargon, he had to hold his hand up and admit it was way above his head.

[tigermoth]

Has made the ABC news in Australia.

Have a read

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/elderly-bridge-players-nabbed-in-thailand-crime-gang-crackdown/7141920

Made the BBC news as well. This Thai junta certainly has the tremendous ability to shoot itself in the foot. The entire world is laughing, even North Korea.

[connda]

Cartoonists! How about a depiction of a typical thai photo-op with these bridge-playing seniors standing around with fingers pointed at the glumly seated 50 of Pattaya's finest!

On 2nd thought, there's probably one already floating around somewhere...

I'm waiting for the BIB to haul the entire lot of criminal seniors back to their den of inequity in order to reenact their heinous crimes, and then they all should be seated in front of the Thai media and forced to shamefully point at stacks of <gasp> 'unlicensed' playing cards, with 121 cards placed in front of each of these evil Bridge playing desperados.

Edited February 5, 2016 by connda

[jesimps]

This fiasco has made living here very scary. From now on we'll all be walking on eggshells.

It's not so much whether or not the game was technically legal but the fact that a bunch of elderly people minding their own business engaged in a gentle, harmless passtime in a private apartment, can be busted by a large gang of oafs.

Not only that but carted off to jail, kept there all night and made to sign a false confession for the privilege of paying 5000 baht to be bailed.

None of us can now be sure that whatever we do we won't be breaking some obscure law and will end up in the same situation as the bridge players.

Old age won't stop them throwing you in the pokey, there seems to be little respect for the elderly here, not the farang type anyway.

Edited February 5, 2016 by jesimps

[thaiduncankk]

This fiasco has made living here very scary. From now on we'll all be walking on eggshells.

It's not so much whether or not the game was technically legal but the fact that a bunch of elderly people minding their own business engaged in a gentle, harmless passtime in a private apartment, can be busted by a large gang of oafs.

Not only that but carted off to jail, kept there all night and made to sign a false confession for the privilege of paying 5000 baht to be bailed.

None of us can now be sure that whatever we do we won't be breaking some obscure law and will end up in the same situation as the bridge players.

Old age won't stop them throwing you in the pokey, there seems to be little respect for the elderly here, not the farang type anyway.

Nobody MADE them sign a confession, they would have been well within their rights to refuse to do so.

[partington]

This fiasco has made living here very scary. From now on we'll all be walking on eggshells.

It's not so much whether or not the game was technically legal but the fact that a bunch of elderly people minding their own business engaged in a gentle, harmless passtime in a private apartment, can be busted by a large gang of oafs.

Not only that but carted off to jail, kept there all night and made to sign a false confession for the privilege of paying 5000 baht to be bailed.

None of us can now be sure that whatever we do we won't be breaking some obscure law and will end up in the same situation as the bridge players.

Old age won't stop them throwing you in the pokey, there seems to be little respect for the elderly here, not the farang type anyway.

Nobody MADE them sign a confession, they would have been well within their rights to refuse to do so.

And Thailand is known the world over for its strict adherence to, and enforcement of, internationally accepted human rights standards...

Edited February 5, 2016 by partington

[thaiduncankk]

This fiasco has made living here very scary. From now on we'll all be walking on eggshells.

It's not so much whether or not the game was technically legal but the fact that a bunch of elderly people minding their own business engaged in a gentle, harmless passtime in a private apartment, can be busted by a large gang of oafs.

Not only that but carted off to jail, kept there all night and made to sign a false confession for the privilege of paying 5000 baht to be bailed.

None of us can now be sure that whatever we do we won't be breaking some obscure law and will end up in the same situation as the bridge players.

Old age won't stop them throwing you in the pokey, there seems to be little respect for the elderly here, not the farang type anyway.

Nobody MADE them sign a confession, they would have been well within their rights to refuse to do so.

And Thailand is known the world over for its strict adherence to, and enforcement of, internationally accepted human rights standards...

I refused to sign a statement in Thai, there was no force suggesting that I signed it.

[brewsterbudgen]

The latest update is that the Pattaya police understand that they made a complete fool of themselves and that the paid bail money will be refunded to the people.

I do not believe it until I read it in the news and hear it from the bridge players themselves, I highly doubt they will get their money back .

"Bridge allows players to accumulate points rather than win money and Khunying Chodchoy vowed to fight any possible Court case in the future, on behalf of those arrested on Thursday, although one of the arrestees who does not wish to be named told Pattaya One that he was given verbal confirmation from the Police that the case will likely be dropped and the 5,000 Baht bail money each of the players paid will be returned."

Source: http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/221299/confusion-and-anger-at-pattaya-bridge-club-raid/

Not good enough. Some serious demotions or transfers to remote outposts of senior police need to happen, if only to get the message home that arrant stupidity is not a good career move.

Well the latest news is that they are proceeding with the prosecution. It should come to court in a month or so and then we'll know if laws were being broken.

[thaiduncankk]

The latest update is that the Pattaya police understand that they made a complete fool of themselves and that the paid bail money will be refunded to the people.

I do not believe it until I read it in the news and hear it from the bridge players themselves, I highly doubt they will get their money back .

"Bridge allows players to accumulate points rather than win money and Khunying Chodchoy vowed to fight any possible Court case in the future, on behalf of those arrested on Thursday, although one of the arrestees who does not wish to be named told Pattaya One that he was given verbal confirmation from the Police that the case will likely be dropped and the 5,000 Baht bail money each of the players paid will be returned."

Source: http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/221299/confusion-and-anger-at-pattaya-bridge-club-raid/

Not good enough. Some serious demotions or transfers to remote outposts of senior police need to happen, if only to get the message home that arrant stupidity is not a good career move.

Well the latest news is that they are proceeding with the prosecution. It should come to court in a month or so and then we'll know if laws were being broken.

I expect it to go to court, imagine the massive loss of face if they backed down now.
If it does, they will get the least fine possible, probably 1,000 baht.
Everyone, the police, prosecution lawyers, defence lawyers, probably the court officials, will get together beforehand to orchestrate this.
If they have been officially charged, and a court date set, it cannot be removed from the system.

[ChidlomDweller]

I'm amazed at the bravery bordering on recklessness of the police walking in like that. I was expecting a whole SWAT team, and the whole area sealed off. Does anyone know if the public is allowed at reenactments? I'd go down to Pattaya to watch that show.

[harrry]

If they have the equivalent of QCs in thailand...particuarly high ranked lawyers, I am sure the court will be full of them if it procedes. The names on the Members list of the Thailand Bridge League will not let this one slide..it may affect them.

[sceadugenga]

The pics and video reveal the presence of plastic "boards" which indicates the offenders were playing duplicate bridge which is not a game of luck, a key point in determining gambling.

All the hands are pre-dealt and placed in the board, each table then plays a board, replaces the cards and passes it onto the next table after marking the score on a sheet that travels with the board.

After the session the directors allot points for the scores... best scoring pair receives 10 points (their opponents nil), or 9.5 if there is a tie, second best receives 9... etc etc.

Subsequently the cards do not matter, the most skilled players on that hand/board will win.

The team with the most points at the end of the session win.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplicate_bridge

[stephenterry]

The pics and video reveal the presence of plastic "boards" which indicates the offenders were playing duplicate bridge which is not a game of luck, a key point in determining gambling.

All the hands are pre-dealt and placed in the board, each table then plays a board, replaces the cards and passes it onto the next table after marking the score on a sheet that travels with the board.

After the session the directors allot points for the scores... best scoring pair receives 10 points (their opponents nil), or 9.5 if there is a tie, second best receives 9... etc etc.

Subsequently the cards do not matter, the most skilled players on that hand/board will win.

The team with the most points at the end of the session win.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplicate_bridge

While duplicate bridge is not a game of luck per se, luck does play a part, and it is not the most skilled players that will always win on any one hand, albeit overall they would be favourites to win any given tournament.

Nevertheless duplicate bridge is a non-gambling game, full stop/bottom line.

[Gsxrnz]

They have an international corruption table that lists Thailand as one of the worst developing countries for corruption and graft.

And these numpties believe it's a good idea to raid a bunch of old fogeys playing bridge on a sunny afternoon.

Would somebody please start a table of the most idiotic governments in the developing world - Thailand would win, and based on points, it would be a long way to second place.

And these prats actually uploaded the lunacy to Youtube themselves!! As if they think they did a smart thing!!

There's stupid, and then there's really stupid, but Baby, it just don't get any more stupid than this.

Must go, me and my mates are playing Texas holdem tonight and I can't be late as we use my chips. PM me for the address.

But, but ... you're playing golf tomorrow, and you're going to be up all night on the chips? Damn tough kiwis.

Yeah Mate, tough as old boots. And I wasn't joking about the cards. I lost, but had fun and a few too many glasses of Johnny Red, then off to golf at 8am - it wasn't pretty on the course!

My caddy looks disgustedly at my red eyes and knows she's playing Russian Roulette with her side bets against the other caddies on me.

But the cards - we alternate playing at each others places, knowing full well about the draconian laws here. But last night after I told the host about the Bridge Club fiasco, he raced around double locking his condo door and gave us instructions that if there's a knock on the door we're to tip all the chips and cards over the balcony.

Great.....but he lives on the 30th floor!!

[sceadugenga]

The pics and video reveal the presence of plastic "boards" which indicates the offenders were playing duplicate bridge which is not a game of luck, a key point in determining gambling.

All the hands are pre-dealt and placed in the board, each table then plays a board, replaces the cards and passes it onto the next table after marking the score on a sheet that travels with the board.

After the session the directors allot points for the scores... best scoring pair receives 10 points (their opponents nil), or 9.5 if there is a tie, second best receives 9... etc etc.

Subsequently the cards do not matter, the most skilled players on that hand/board will win.

The team with the most points at the end of the session win.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplicate_bridge

While duplicate bridge is not a game of luck per se, luck does play a part, and it is not the most skilled players that will always win on any one hand, albeit overall they would be favourites to win any given tournament.

Nevertheless duplicate bridge is a non-gambling game, full stop/bottom line.

Any competitive activity will involve a degree of luck, the faster runner may be off his feed, the team of champions may meet a champion team... but as you say, at the end of play the most skilled team/player will be at the top or somewhere near.