42 gamblers nabbed in Pattaya raid

42 gamblers nabbed in Pattaya raid

CHON BURI: Pattaya police have frozen 17 million baht in cash belonging to a gambling den owner after 42 gamblers were arrested when police raided a room at a four-star hotel in Pattaya on Tuesday night.

Armed with a search warrant issued by the Pattaya Court, officers led by Pol Col Kulachart Kulchai, the Pattaya police chief, searched a room at Le Vernissage Hotel in tambon Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, about 8.30pm.

They detained 42 people including the gambling den security guards. Most were playing baccarat and none were wearing face masks.

Gambling equipment seized as evidence included tables, various sets of cards and gambling chips with a total value of about 500 million baht, as well as 2 million baht in cash.

Police also seized three guns from the guards. Two closed-circuit cameras installed in the room were impounded for examination.

Police also arrested Weerapong Premchaiporn, 47, the gambling den owner and froze 17 million baht in cash found in a safe. Mr Weerapong claimed the cash belonged to him.

Police also traced 32 million baht in bank accounts -- these traces were conducted three hours before the raid. They will submit the evidence to the Anti-Money Laundering Office for further investigation, said Pol Col Kulachart.

Mr Weerapong allegedly admitted to hosting baccarat gambling in Ranong before moving to Pattaya.

He has been charged with providing a venue for gambling.

Two of his Myanmar workers, Nansoung Kham, 32, and Nan War War, 34, were also charged.

Legal proceedings are now moving forward, police said.

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