Chuvit: More top police involved

Chuvit: More top police involved

Chuvit Kamolvisit has said more high-ranking police officers were involved in casinos, not just the two arrested on Monday for the bribery charge.

 

Mr Chuvit brings a figurine of Guan Yu, one of the heroes in the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' legend, to encourage police chief Somyot Poompanmoung to crack down on all corrupt police. Guan Yu is revered for his bravery and loyalty. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

The flamboyant leader of Rak Thailand party, who always claims insider knowledge on police's shady activities, held a press conference at the Royal Thai Police's headquarters on Wednesday to make his point.

"I believe more top officers are involved, especially with the casino at Colonze massage parlour in the Rama IX area, which was moved to the Ratchadaphisek area nine months later and is now closed down," said Mr Chuvit, formerly known as the massage parlour king before he entered politics.

"Pol Lt Gen Pongpat [Chayapan], who was chief of the Central Investigation Bureau then and not the 'owner' of the territory, could not have arbitrarily opened it. The metropolitan police chief then must have known and been involved," he said.

Mr Chuvit was referring to the high-profile arrests on Monday of four police officers including Pol Gen Pongpat, a non-commissioned police officer and another four civilians on lese majeste and bribery charges. 

"The casino was owned by a woman from Poi Pet [in Cambodia] and a well-known gambler whose name begins with 'T'. Some police officers were also involved. A payback at the rate of 20 million baht a day or 600 million baht a month was given [to the police officers] then.

"Pol Lt Gen Pongpat couldn't have allowed it to open if the officers in charge of the territory had not been aware of it. We're talking about a large casino here, not a small gambling den for petty games," he said.

Mr Chuvit said the two police officers whose names begin with 'K' and 'Ch' were involved. "Also, it's beyond belief that Lt Gen Pongpat’s network is limited to those arrested.

"I'd like to beg [police chief] Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmoung to take this opportunity to crack down on all of them. You needn't break a sweat hunting them down. You can just do it by simply turning you head.

"Let's not forget that Pol Gen Somyot said he would arrest them no matter how influential they are."

Mr Chuvit also claimed to have information ready for the police chief.

"I personally believe Gen Somyot is a good man and he must crack down on all of these renegade police.

"Someone close to him is also in the network. I insist I came here with good intention, as a citizen with some intelligence on bad police" he said. 

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