PATHUM THANI: Five senior police officers from Klong Luang Police Station were transferred to inactive posts at the Pathum Thani Provincial Police Headquarters on Tuesday after failing to control a well-known nightclub, said Pol Maj Gen Yuthana Jonkhun, commander of the Pathum Thani Provincial Police Headquarters.
The transfer orders came after 489 minors were found at Heaven Rangsit, a popular nightclub in Pathum Thani, in a raid early on Sunday morning. According to the police, the venue was also operating without the required licence.
The five senior officers were ordered to work at the headquarters for 15 days once the investigation is completed, said Pol Maj Gen Yuthana.
Klong Luang district chief Noppadol Pholsue was also transferred to Phachi district in Ayutthaya on Tuesday, said Suttipong Juljarern, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry.
Apisara Ket-In, the current Pachi district chief, was swapped to fill Mr Noppadol's position. Both district chiefs will start their new roles on Monday, said Mr Suttipong.
Codenamed Rangsit Mun Rai ("Rangsit is wild"), about 50 officials from the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) of the Ministry of Interior raided Heaven Rangsit on Sunday after numerous complaints from the public. There were about 1,000 patrons on site, and the bar's staff tried to help some of those who were underage leave via a back exit as the raid began.
However, after officials blocked all access in and out of the venue and turned on the lights to question those in the club, they found 489 minors, the youngest of whom was 16, hiding at the back.
Heaven Rangsit was temporarily closed for two weeks under the Building Control Act while the owners faced questioning by the DPA.
The nightclub is expected to be closed for five years after the owners have exhausted their options to appeal, said Pathum Thani governor Passakorn Bunyaluck.
As the number of minors found during the raid was surprisingly high, Mr Passakorn led a meeting with 17 related agencies on Monday on measures to prevent similar incidents over the coming months.
Mr Passakorn said that he had spoken to the operators of 234 other night spots in the province about increased vigilance for underage patrons.
The Klong Luang deputy district chief of security was also transferred to the Provincial Office after the investigation was completed, said Mr Passakorn.