Chuwit demands urgent crackdown on gambling den

He also called on the Metropolitan Police Bureau to launch both criminal and disciplinary action against Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander MajGeneral Patchara Boonyasit for failing to raid the gambling den and make arrests.
“I called on him to inspect the gambling den, but he refused and instead told me to leave the area,” Chuwit said, adding that though he could not enter the den himself, he had dispatched spies to make video clips of the activities there.
Bureau spokesman Colonel Preeda Sathavorn accepted the video clips and other evidence about the alleged den and was asked to sign the receipt. Chuwit said he wanted Preeda’s signature to prove that the police had officially received evidence of the alleged illegal activities.
“Now if the police don’t take immediate action, the operators of the den will have time to relocate,” the flamboyant politician said.
Chuwit also submitted similar evidence to National Police Commissioner General Priewphan Damapong’s secretary, MajGeneral Piya Tawichai.
The Rak Prathet Thai leader said the police seemed to be very reluctant to crack down on this gambling den because the owner of the operation had close links to an important government figure.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung condemned Chuwit for trying to link the government to illegal gambling activities.
“If he is so confident about it, he should have named the person,” Chalerm said, adding that the police bureau was also closely examining Chuwit’s words to determine whether they constituted contempt of officialdom.
According to Chalerm, police cannot search private property without a courtapproved search warrant and that gamblers can only get arrested if they are caught redhanded with bets.
“Police did the right thing by suggesting that Chuwit leave the soi. In those circumstances, he could have been attacked because many people there were clearly angered by his behaviour,” Chalerm said.
However, the deputy prime minister said that since Chuwit was serving as deputy chair of the House committee on police affairs, he had the right to summon people or police officers to testify.
“Hence, when he gets tipoffs or complaints, he can forward them to relevant authorities. But it is not right for him to summon police officers to a street and order them to conduct a raid. A search warrant must be approved by court after it has held a hearing on whether a warrant is appropriate,” Chalerm said.