Gambling den raid cue for top cop transfers

Five senior police officers from Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka police station were transferred to inactive posts yesterday shortly after soldiers raided a snooker hall and arrested more than 100 people for alleged gambling.

The transfer was ordered by deputy commander of the Provincial Police Region 1, Pol Maj Gen Sommai Patchara-into, in his capacity as acting commander of the bureau, pending the result of an investigation.

Named in the order were Pol Col Arthorn Chinthong, Lam Luk Ka police superintendent; Pol Lt Col Chumphon Pisolkunlapan, deputy superintendent for crime suppression; Pol Lt Col Jomphon Rujiradamrongchai, deputy superintendent for investigation; Pol Lt Col Vicharn Chanthasee, investigator chief; and Pol Maj Thanaphon Sukson, the station crime suppression chief.

About 30 soldiers took part in the raid in the early hours of yesterday on the Finix Snooker Hall on Hathairat Road in tambon Bung Khamproi where 118 people were detained for illegal gambling.

The raid sparked panic with people trying to flee. Some punters made it out through an exit at the back of the building. A total of 118 gamblers were rounded up — 60 men and 58 women — and cash totalling 195,406 baht was confiscated.

Those arrested were taken to Lam Luk Ka police station and charged with illegal gambling. Neither the caretaker nor the owner of the venue were found.

Items seized from the premises included 17,580 tokens used for the slot machines, 9,420 chips used in exchange for cash and 40 VIP cards for gamblers.

Gambling paraphernalia was also seized, including high-low dice, slot machines and computers used for online football betting.

According to the authorities, the raid was part of an extended investigation into a gambling ring which was also raided late last month in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district.

The Lam Luk Ka premises were believed to be affiliated with the Nong Chok den.