Chuvit on target

Chuvit Kamolvisit has once again proven he is an expert in Bangkok's underground activities, embarrassing city police in the process.

Rak Thai list MP Chuwit Kamolvisit reveals the existence of a large illegal casino during the debate on the government’s policy statement on Tuesday. You can see a video clip of his accusations below.

Click button to listen to Casino and rightclick to download

Chuvit's tip on gambling den pans out

Five cops transferred after casino is located
 
King-oua Laohong

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) yesterday transferred six senior Bangkok police officers to inactive posts after a large illegal casino was found to be operating right under their noses.

MPB spokesman Pol Maj Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said the bureau transferred Pol Maj Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, chief of Bangkok Police Division 2 and five top officers in the Sutthisan police station because their jurisdiction included Ratchadaphisek 18 Road where the casino allegedly operated.

They will be attached to the MPB for 30 days in inactive posts.

Earlier the bureau had dismissed as baseless Rak Thai list MP Chuvit Kamolvisit's complaint and video clip screened in parliament that a large casino operated on Ratchadaphisek 18 Road. He said that police had turned a blind eye to the operation because senior police officers owned the casino.

But, the bureau managed to make the transfers swiftly after national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree set up a committee to investigate Mr Chuvit's tip.

Ampol Wongsiri, secretary-general of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), yesterday confirmed that Mr Chuvit had been correct when he said that senior police officers owned the casino.

Mr Ampol said his staff had located the casino on Ratchadaphisek 18 Road and it was the same gambling den that Mr Chuvit had exposed in parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Ampol said the casino, which only took in high-end gamblers, had been moved from Rama IX Road. Police also found small and mid-sized gambling dens in apartment buildings on Lat Phrao Road. He also confirmed Mr Chuvit's allegation that illicit drugs were for sale in the restrooms of most entertainment venues.

Asked to comment on MPB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Jakthip Chaijinda's earlier insistence that Bangkok was free of casinos, Mr Ampol said he wondered if the Bangkok police chief could convince the public of that. He said taxi drivers could comfortably bring gamblers to their favourite casinos in Bangkok.

(party) list – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
reveal – to let something become known เปิดเผย
existence – the state of being a real or living thing, or of being present in a particular place, time, or situation การดำรงอยู่,การมีอยู่,การมีชีวิตอยู่,ความเป็นอยู่
debate – a discussion in which people or groups state different opinions about a subject การอภิปราย, การโต้วาที, การถกเถียง
policy – a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย
statement – something that you say or write that gives information or an opinion แถลงการณ์, คำแถลง
accusation – allegation; a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
tip – secret information or a warning given by someone  ข่าวเตือน จากวงใน
gambling – the activity of betting money, for example in a game or on a horse race การพนัน
den – a place where people meet in secret, especially for some illegal or immoral activity บ่อน
pan out – to develop in a particular way; to be successful จบด้วยดี
transfer – to change someone’s job or responsibilities โยกย้ายตำแหน่ง
locate – to find where something is หาทำเล,หาที่ตั้ง
metropolitan police – the police in responsible for a city ตำรวจนครบาล
senior – with a high rank or position อาวุโส
inactive post – a job or position with no real responsibilities or duties
operating – carrying out an activity ดำเนินการ
under somebody’s nose – very close to them but they cannot see it
jurisdiction – the authority that an official organisation has to make legal decisions about somebody/something เขตอำนาจตามกฎหมาย
allegedly – claimed to have done something wrong, but not yet proven ที่กล่าวหา
dismiss – to refuse to accept that something might be true or important ไม่สนใจ,แย้งกลับ
baseless – groundless; based on no good reasons or facts ไม่มีมูลความจริง
complaint – when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
screen – to show of a film or video to a group of people ฉายบนจอ (ภาพยนตร์, ทีวี ฯลฯ)
turn a blind eye – to deliberately not pay attention to; to ignore ทำไม่รู้ไม่ชี้ ทำเป็นไม่เห็น
manage – to succeed in doing something สำเร็จ,จัดการได้สำเร็จ, ทำได้สำเร็จ
swiftly – happening quickly อย่างรวดเร็ว  โดยด่วน
investigate – to try to find out the facts about something in order to learn the truth about it ตรวจสอบหาความจริง
public sector – government sector; part of the economy controlled by the government ภาครัฐบาล
commission – a group of people who have been formally chosen to discover information about a problem or examine the reasons why the problem exists คณะกรรมการ, คณะกรรมาธิการ
expose – to make something or someone publicly known because you believe something illegal or dishonest has happened เปิดเผยออกมา
high-end – expensive and of high quality; having a lot of money to spend มีคุณภาพ
illicit – against the law ผิดกฎหมาย
restroom – a room with a toilet in it, especially in a public building ห้องน้ำ
venue – the place where an activity or event happens สถานที่ที่เหตุการณ์เกิดขึ้น
insistence – a very firm statement that something must happen or that something is true การยืนกราน, คำยืนยัน
wonder – to think about something because you want to know more facts or details about it สงสัย
convince – to make somebody/yourself believe that something is true; to persuade somebody to do something ทำให้เชื่อ, ทำให้แน่ใจ, ชักจูง
favourite – something you like the best of all similar things ที่ชอบมาก,ที่โปรดปราน