Security officials have failed for the fifth time to make any arrests at an infamous gambling venue in the Tao Pun area of Bang Sue district.
A joint force of 60 soldiers and police led by the 1st Cavalry Division army raided the Tao Pun gambling den yesterday afternoon. Nearby residents were opposed to the operation.
Before raiding the venue a group of residents blocked authorities from entering the casino. The soldiers and police negotiated with the residents and they agreed to allow access.
The authorities had to use gas welding equipment and pliers to shear off a thick metal gate to enter the three-storey building. They found no one inside but seized gambling equipment, including Baccarat tables and a slot machine, as well as eight pistols.
During the operation, the group of residents shouted at and scolded the police and troops, saying they were destroying civilian property.
National police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang yesterday said police had raided the Tao Pun gambling den four times but failed to arrest anyone each time. The fifth raid yesterday was a joint military-police operation empowered by martial law but it still failed to apprehend any suspects, he said.
Meanwhile, the commanders of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's (MPB) Division 2 and Division 4 and 13 senior officers from three police stations were transferred to inactive posts after a series of military raids on gambling dens in Bangkok on Thursday.
Pol Gen Somyot yesterday signed the transfer order for Pol Maj Gen Korkiat Wongsumet, chief of the MPB's Division 2, and Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan Pingmuang, of the MPB's Division 4.
Aside from the two commanders, five police officers attached to Bang Khen and Khok Khram police stations and three from Lat Phrao police station were moved to inactive posts for 30 days pending an investigation.
The five officers transferred from Khok Khram station are Pol Col Damrong Boonwilaiwong, Pol Lt Col Srisan Fuangsang, Pol Lt Col Suthat Daengpradap, Pol Lt Col Jakkaphong Traidee and Pol Capt Kullanan Chantud.
At Bang Khen station, Pol Col Natnawit Sitthaphirom, Pol Lt Col Poramet Poynok, Pol Lt Col Amnat Intrasuan, Pol Lt Col Sanae Maneechay and Pol Maj Suraphol Chansomsak were transferred.
The three officers from Lat Phrao station are Pol Col Saksit Meesawat, Pol Lt Col Thanachote Ruerkdee and Pol Lt Col Paijit Khamyod.
The transfers followed three raids, conducted by the army, on illegal gambling houses in Bangkok’s Bung Kum, Bang Khen and Lat Phrao districts on
Thursday.
In the first raid, authorities arrested Montri Maingam, 32, along with 10 alleged members at a gambling house in Soi Nuan Chan 16 in Bung Kum district, the area under Khok Khram police’s jurisdiction.
On the same day, Tuangsit Wongkhamkaew, 28, and Chatchai Phongamphai, 41, including 24 gamblers were apprehended for gambling charges in the Saphan Mai area which is under the responsibility of Bang Khen police.