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Thai police chief in casino scandal

by Thin Lei Win | @thinink | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 11:35 GMT

Nine other senior police officers in Bangkok also face punishment - report

BANGKOK (TrustLaw) - Thailand’s national police chief may be removed from his position over a growing scandal in which the police have been accused of protecting illegal casinos, the Bangkok Post reported, quoting Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung.

General Wichean Potephosree, who has been in the job for almost a year, came under pressure after politician and Rak Thai Party leader Chuvit Kamolwisit, who came to parliament on an anti-corruption platform, produced a hidden-camera video clip showing gambling activities inside a major casino which he claimed was run by police officers.

According to Chalerm, gambling dens can now be found around the country and the police have enjoyed kickbacks from these dens.

"It is impossible that a large casino can open in the heart of Bangkok and top-ranking police officers are not aware of it and do not give a nod to the casino operator," he was quoted as saying.

Nine other senior police officers in Bangkok are also facing punishment, the Bangkok Post reported in a separate story.

The Straits Times said the Metropolitan Police had at first denied the existence of the casino but the secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, Ampol Wongsiri, later admitted it had been owned by senior police officers.

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