119 punters arrested in Bangkok gambling den raid
The First Army Region’s special task force joined with police to round up 119 punters in an alleged gambling den in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district yesterday.
At about 2pm yesterday, the 52-strong operation also arrested alleged bookie Thawatchai Larplua, 55, and seized Bt138,500, along with gambling equipment.
Team leader Colonel Noppasit Sitthipongsopon said the raid stemmed from a written complaint about the alleged gambling den and a subsequent probe to confirm the alleged illegal activities there.
The alleged illegal operation, located behind a market on Soi Ram Indra 14, was allegedly financed by a former politician, known as “Nor”, and his business partner, identified as “Tee Ram”, an informed source said.
Following the operation, acting Metropolitan Police Area 2 chief Colonel Panumas Boonyalak said a fact-finding committee would be set up to probe the five most senior police officers at the Khok Khram Police Station, which has jurisdiction of the area where the alleged gambling den operated.
He said the probe would determine if the officers were negligent in performing their duties.
He said the five officers would also be transferred to inactive posts pending the probe result.