District cops ‘turned blind eye’ to crime
DRUGS, UNDERAGE PATRONS AT PUB
>> Phasicharoen district police are facing an investigation for allegedly turning a blind eye to crime, following a raid at a pub on Phutthamonthon Sai 1 Road where 12 out of 86 patrons were found to be underage, a source says.
The raid was carried out by a combined force of 80 officials from the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) and soldiers at 12.30am yesterday at a pub and restaurant called “Kham Kham”, the source said.
Five officials from the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection (DJOP) also took part in the raid, the source said.
The source said 1 gramme of crystal amphetamine and two pots of baraku water pipe were found and seized for inspection.
Krisada Phuangmali, 27, a Phasicharoen resident, was detained for questioning after he identified himself as the caretaker of the pub, police said, adding that a check later showed that the person who holds a licence to operate the pub and an associated licence to sell alcoholic beverages is Aphirat Phimchanok who lives in the same district.
Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Division 9 chief Kampanat Sophanodon said a fact-finding committee was set up yesterday to investigate whether the Phasicharoen police had ignored the pub’s violations of the law.
Phasicharoen police station chief Natthawut Panchan is required to meet the committee for questioning on Tuesday, Pol Maj Gen Kampanat said.
DJOP deputy director-general Sahakarn Petchnarin said prior to the raid, several DPA officials had pretended to be clubgoers visiting the place and they found many underage visitors were allowed to enter the pub. The establishment was also found to have served alcohol in hours prohibited by the law, Mr Sahakarn said.
The operator of the pub faces seven charges including illegally serving alcoholic beverages to people under 20 years of age and selling alcohol out of the period of time allowed by the law.
Meanwhile, the DJOP earlier last week launched two mobile applications, one for members of the public to report motorcycle street racing and the other for reporting illegal alcohol outlets in Bangkok.
The second app would help identify entertainment venues which operate in prohibited areas or near educational institutes in the same target locations as well, said DJOP director-general Wisit Wisitsora-at at the launch of the apps.
The mobile apps were also introduced in some major provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Phuket. The apps, which are only demos at this stage, were jointly developed by the DJOP, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda).