Banglamung District Chief
Chawalit Saeng-Uthai inspects the confiscated handgun along with
hundreds of thousands of baht, gambling slips and tables found during a
raid on a Soi Buakaow home.
Boonlua Chatree
Banglamung officials raided a Soi Buakaow home
believed to be an illegal gambling den, arresting its caretaker and
seizing more than 1 million baht in cash, weapons and electronics.
District Chief Chawalit Saeng-Uthai led more than 50
civil defense volunteers in the after-midnight raid May 30. Apparently
tipped off, gamblers had fled the scene beforehand, leaving behind only
20-year-old Issarak Wangkamollan, who claimed to have no connection to
the gambling operation.
Spread out over 30 sq. meters were tables apparently
used by gamblers, with signs posted to indicate betting on big and
small, a popular gambling game. More than 500 football-betting stubs
were recovered as well as 368,910 baht in cash.
Police also discovered a loaded 11mm handgun, two
televisions, computer, printers, fax machines, DVD players, satellite
television box, dice and cards. Eight bankbooks showing deposits of more
than 200,000 baht were also found.
Saying he was simply hired to care for the property,
Issarak told police the casino would operate from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Despite claiming to earn just 500 baht a day, the supposed caretaker was
charged with operating an illegal casino, exchanging personal assets
without a license and other gambling-related offenses.
