Police transferred after gambling den bust

action, after police units conducted a raid at a gambling den in their jurisdiction on Sunday night.

The five officers will likely face punishment after the end of the 30-day probe for not complying with an ultimatum to clamp down on vice activities issued last week by the Royal Thai Police, threatening uncooperative officers with drastic action.

The deadline for the no-vice policy was after midnight on May 28, when the ultimatum was announced. Huai Khwan police are the first to face the axe.

The inspector on crime suppression duties, Pol Lt Colonel Khomsan Taengjui - the main officer responsible for vice-related activities - has escaped punishment because he was on a 90-day administrative leave.

The five officers are station chief Pol Colonel Anurak Narkphanom, Pol Lt Colonel Wasuthep Khongklom, Pol Majors Santi Kornkasem, Phayong Iam-sakul and Phoomes Ungsuwannakool.

On Sunday night, a 30-strong team of policemen from the Children, Juveniles and Women Division and an anti-vice taskforce raided the unnamed den on Phaeng Muang street off Rama IX road and arrested 151 gamblers, seizing Bt150,000 in cash and five illegal game machines.

All 151 gambler suspects were taken to a court yesterday in two chartered buses and a transport truck to hear indictments against them. They were each fined Bt2,000 before being released. Threeraphong Sukhanthakul, who operated the den, was handed a two-month detention.