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Police and Gambling Dens in Bangkok
Acting national police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong yesterday denied the existence of a new den that Chuwit said would begin operating soon in Bangkok's Meng Jai
The chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and 18 senior officers will be summoned tomorrow to hear disciplinary charges for allegedly allowing gambling dens to operate in Bangkok, inspector-general Pol General Sathaphorn Laothong said yesterday.
If found guilty, senior officers would be put on probation and face 5-per-cent salary cuts for three months, while less-senior officers would receive warnings, Sathaphorn said.
The investigation will look into the officers’ failure to perform their duties in relation to the existence of gambling dens; and their possible involvement in the operations of some of them. One den was exposed in a video shown by Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit in Parliament in August.
Acting national police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong yesterday denied the existence of a new den that Chuwit said would begin operating soon in Bangkok’s Meng Jai.
No such den has been found, and talk of a new one is just a rumour, he said. Asked whether the den would have opened if not for Chuwit’s disclosure, Priewpan said police must take action according to the law.
Meanwhile, outgoing Government Lottery Office chief Wanchai Surakul denied that anyone had “masterminded” his proposal that a casino be opened in Thailand.
Chuwit to blow whistle on Bt8 billion irregularities
Rak Prathet Thai MP Chuwit Kamolvisit said on Friday he will next week disclose Bt8 billion irregularities involving a certain government office.
“The case is similar to the fire trucks scandal,” he said, claiming imported goods left at Laem Chabang port as evidence.
Chuwit said the office in question had made a shady deal but could not take the delivery of the goods due to suspected corruption.
Commenting on the high court’s verdict to seize his Bt3.4 million in ill-gotten gains in connection with the alleged prostitution ring, he said he respected the judicial ruling.
“I admitted my past business was in the grey area,” he said, insisting he was no longer involved in operating massage parlours.
He pleaded for society to give him a chance to working in the public service in order to redeem himself from his past “sinful” business.
