Three police chiefs transferred over gambling dens
Four highranking officers implicated in two other illegal operations
The chiefs of three police stations in Bangkok were transferred to inactive posts yesterday after video clips showing gambling dens in areas under their jurisdiction were released in Parliament last month.
The three officers, who all hold the rank of police colonel, are Phya Thai station chief Samarn Rodkamnerd, Tao Poon station's Weera Jiraweera and Bang Yi Khan station's Adisak Khunaphan. The officers will be assigned desk jobs for 30 days pending disciplinary action. Their positions will be taken over by other officers holding the same rank during this period.
A separate investigation into two dens off Ratchadaphisek and Rama IX roads had not been completed as scheduled yesterday. So far, four highranking officers at Bangkok Police Bureau level and another 39 officers at Wang Thong Land and Metropolitan Police Division 24 have been implicated in relation to both dens.
If found guilty, the highranking officers may lose the chance of promotion, Royal Thai Police inspectorgeneral Pol General Sathaphorn Laothong said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversees national police, issued a fivepoint policy for 1,500 station chiefs at a meeting in Bangkok yesterday. The policy includes the suppression of drug trafficking and other crime; an increase in police patrols; the preservation of natural resources and the environment; and upgrading all police stations to serve as onepoint service centres.
Acting national police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong said he had instructed Bangkok police to ensure that all local gambling dens stop operating by setting up checkpoints and blocking potential clients before other measures are worked out later.
