Raid finds suspicious Sai Mai block but no 'topless' gambling den
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Metropolitan Police deputy commander Lt-General Saroj Phromcharoen led a raid yesterday on the site of an alleged gambling den in Bangkok's Sai Mai district that reportedly featured topless hostesses and cashiers to attract punters - only to find an empty
Although police didn’t find anything illegal, Saroj said they found it suspicious that more than a dozen security cameras were installed at the site.
Caretaker Nattahpol Kosol-wimonkit, 40, told police a man named Tui, aged in his 30s, had rented the place in December, saying he planned to turn it into an Internet cafe?. The caretaker said he didn’t know what had become of Tui, but his lease hadn’t expired yet.
Police would summon the landlord and tenants for questioning soon, Saroj said, adding that police also wanted to ask the women who appear topless in photos circulated on the Internet whether the site raided yesterday housed the den where their pictures were taken.
Outspoken MP Chuwit Kamolvisit said earlier that a gambling den featuring topless women was currently operating in the Sai Mai area. Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong ordered an inquiry, which led to the raid.
Winai said the inquiry found that the nude pictures were taken this year but that the den no longer operated. He also said there was no evidence of police being involved, so there was no need to launch a disciplinary probe or transfer the Sai Mai police chief.
A source at the Crime Suppression Division said the den belonged to a man identified as “Chai Sai Mai” and that the pictures were taken during a gambling event held during New Year celebrations. It featured topless women walking round taking photos with customers. The den closed after the holiday period, the source said.
