Four police linked to online gambling gang surrender

Four commissioned policemen yesterday turned themselves in to face charges related to claims they took bribes from an online gambling organisation. 

A gambling network allegedly run by Abubakar bin Sulaiman is said to have links with ousted crime-buster Lt General Pongpat Chayaphan. 

The four police were identified as Pol Lt Colonel Wattana Phon-ngarn-dee, Pol Major Apisit Mekprayoon, Captain Nitipat Kangruambut and Captain Sakkarin Kaysorntien. 

“They are now charged with taking bribes and corrupt negligence,” Metropolitan Police Division 2’s deputy commander Pol Colonel Chayut Marayart said yesterday.

He oversees the investigation into alleged bribe taking by police who participated in a 2009 crackdown on the so-called Abubakar gang. Pongpat reportedly led police to arrest an Indian businessman here five years ago on suspicion that the suspect was involved in an online gambling organisation with turnover of billions of baht.

Chayut said all the four suspects who turned themselves in yesterday denied any wrongdoing. 

Following their surrender, police took them to their homes to conduct searches. Police can detain the four suspects for 48 hours in line with the law, but further detention requires permission from a court. 

Relatives of the men are plan to post bail for them. 

These four police are among 14 suspects for whom arrest warrants were issued last Wednesday over charges related to the bribe taking scandal related to the Abubakar gang. 

Nine of these suspects are police. They were told to report themselves by December 29 or face arrest. 

An informed source said the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief had already contacted the supervisors of the other five wanted police suspects to arrange for their surrender. 

In related news, Pongpat was transferred out of the Central Chest Institute yesterday back to the Medical Correctional Institution, where he underwent a “balloon” heart surgery on Saturday. When Pongpat was at the institute, there was huge police presence. 

The transfer took place, after doctors agreed that Pongpat’s health conditions were good enough. 

Pongpat has been in detention since last month. 

“He has records of high-blood pressure. But his chest pain was likely acute,” Special Remand Prison chief Ayut Sintopphan said.