Jump to content

British-led Card Room raided by officials in South Pattaya


webfact

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 758
  • Created
  • Last Reply

I don't see the problem here except for the number of officers involved in the arrest. These people are criminals who broke the law. They knew they were committing a crime but obviously thought as affluent foreigners they were above the law or were too culturally insensitive to care. If you live in a country you should follow its laws and customs regardless of whether you agree with them or not. If you do not want to do that face the consequences or go somewhere else. I bet many of these would be the first to whine about foreigners in their on country flaunting the laws and refusing to conform to cultural norms.

Please tell me you are attempting a joke, as otherwise it's a rather idiotic statement. These people are not criminals as they have not been convicted of any crime. There was no gambling. The courts have previously held that people engaged in non gambling events such as these are not in violation of the intent of the law. In criminal law, intent is a major component of the establishment of a criminal act. There was no demonstrable intent to engage in a criminal act.

How anyone can call a group of elderly people "criminals" is downright mean and nasty. The policy undertook the raid because they thought there was gambling going on. They have had to reach for an obscure interpretation of an outdated law that is ignored by the courts because they have made utter fools of themselves. Seriously, who throws an old man against the wall and cuffs him because of a harmless game of bridge?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This actually made the national TV news, even had the police video. A bunch of confused old folks playing Bridge.

Unclear what crime was committed, anyone know?

The offense relates to Section 8 of the Playing Cards Act of 1935 which states that an individual is not allowed to possess more than 120 playing cards at any one time. At the Bridge event, considerably more than 120 playing cards were found by officers.

INDIVIDUAL is the operative word.......32 individuals x 120 = 3840...... in bridge each table needs 4 packs ...8 tables x 4 x 52 =1664...case closed!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry to spoil your fun but my wife called me to the TV this morning to watch this news item. A LOT of money was found on the premises which is why there were 50 friends and helpers investigating.

Its a restaurant, they sell food and drink. Most of any money would be theirs.

The rented space would contain no money related to the bridge players since its duplicate bridge, played by almost every country in the world, where there is no gambling involved.

There might have been a small amount that is collected before the game from each player to pay expenses.

I imagine (and hope) that you are correct. The fact remains that there must be a compelling reason for over 50 police to have turned up.

they obviously thought it was a gambling den, I doubt very much that Thai police would have a clue what the card game bridge actually is, they see cards and automatically assume gambling

It is narrow minded stupidity on a scale I have never encounter here before

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmm. I just played in this. High end hotel in Bangkok. Some very influential Thai players.

I guess we were all breaking the law, same with the weekly games at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

There's even a That Bridge Society.

I suspect the charge will be dropped when the appropriate phone call is made.

http://www.thailandbridgeleague.com/asean/index.php?mode=participants

Forget the phone call the damage has already been done. The officer who ordered this fiasco should be transferred or put on unpaid leave. It would be nice if this was picked up by all the foreign press. They could feature it right next to Peanuts in the comics. I have been here some 5 years now and well this tops the gut buster list for me. I guess now there are only 599 unsolved crimes left for the BIB to "solve"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am one of the bridgpplayers who was detained.

The charges of gambling have been dropped. There was no money involved.

There were no prizes.

The event is known as a "club duplicate pairs" and is played in small clubs all over the world.I will write more when I get home from the police station.

When you get home from the police station? Incredible that you even had to go there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This actually made the national TV news, even had the police video. A bunch of confused old folks playing Bridge.

Unclear what crime was committed, anyone know?

Two crimes were allegedly committed. Serious crimes:

  1. An individual was in possession of more than 120 playing cards.
  2. The playing card boxes did not have the official government seal.

The police are still scouring through the laws issued over the past few hundred years to see if there are other violations of any law. This will obviously take some time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As a non player I had no idea of the restrictions on playing cards. First time I rode the TG A380 was given a promotional Thai A380 pack, marked "For export Only". So I looked it up and a, makes no sense whatsoever. Still have it, unopened. Meanwhile the Kingdom is overrun with all manner of gambling and criminality.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmm. I just played in this. High end hotel in Bangkok. Some very influential Thai players.

I guess we were all breaking the law, same with the weekly games at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

There's even a That Bridge Society.

I suspect the charge will be dropped when the appropriate phone call is made.

http://www.thailandbridgeleague.com/asean/index.php?mode=participants

This has happened before when the Pattaya Bridge club was run by Terry who has since passed away. The digging up the 1935 law of 120 playing cards is just a ridiculous exercise of saving face. Police could of said it was just a case of misinformation and left it at that. All the same thanks for the link. Its a pity that the Pattaya Police cannot apply their zeal for justice to the Jet Ski scammers where real crime is taking place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

... however the officers scoured the law books and found an offense was being committed

A Trumped Up Charge...

Maybe they should arrest the following persons:

  • Somchai BAISAMUT
  • Kridsadayut Plengsap
  • Virat Chinmanas
  • Chaitad Suriya
  • Esther C. Sophonpanich
  • Chalermpol WONGWAIWIT
  • Piya THONGDHAMMACHAT
  • Wanchai DANWACHIRA
  • Pramoul Ang-Kaew
  • Terasak Jitngamkusol
  • Patnarin Kitchakarn
  • Pornthep Leelasa-Nguan
  • Kirawat Limsinsopon
  • Sunisa Vatanasuk
  • Pichai Nimityongskul
  • Pravati Silabhusiddhi
  • Adisorn Kiatchokewiwat
  • Panjaroon Jariyanuntanate
  • Apisai Makmitree
  • Sunai Thiengtham

(more names where those came from)

They all represent Thailand in the World Bridge Federation, "an international sports federation recognised by the IOC".
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Get those scum bag Farangs.

Throw them in Jail, give them very heavy fines, deport them , and black list them for 99 years. giggle.gifgiggle.gifgiggle.gif

The Pattaya Pantomime, just gets more funny every week.

Wonder who the pleasant person was who grassed on them and why ? must have been a right story that one

The bust of the century. facepalm.giffacepalm.giffacepalm.gif

You have every right to be sarcastic, and yes, the whole episode is both hilarious and pathetic, but let's have a thought of deep sympathy for the 74 year-old guy who actually got arrested. Being arrested in this country is not something I would ever want to go through, whatever the reasons.

As for the guy who ratted out on them, let's just say that, once you've spent a few years in this country, you learn that grassing up is nothing short of a national sport, and it's a sad, disconcerting discovery.

Why are so many Thais prone to do that ?

There must be more than one factor but I'd say that the main one stems from a very rigid pyramidal society where each degree has very little room for independance and must kowtow to those on the degrees above. Humiliation is constant, and must be covered up with a smile, even though it is a very painful experience for all Asians, known as 'losing face'.

The resulting accumulated frustration is unfathomable. Ratting out people is one of the meanest forms of revenge. Many, if not most Thais, suffer from both a superiority and inferiority complex with regard to white people (whereas most white people have only the former with regard to non-whites). Every single white business owner I have met in Thailand was grassed out at least once by one or several Thais (staff, neighbors, family, 'friends'), and they have a field day because doing business in this country 100% by the book is near impossible, so there is always one or more points where you just have to 'make do'. These 'loopholes' ought to be called 'wells of corruption', and the combination of grassing out and corruption is a highly stinky one.

Welcome to Thailand, brave entrepreneurs !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

those in charge must be sooooo proud. After all, there's nothing more important, a higher priority or more likely to make Pattaya safer and function better than having 50 law enforcement make a raid on these elderly individuals taking part in a no money change hands game of cards! And the informant must be doubly proud knowing his/her duty has been done.

PATHETIC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am one of the bridgpplayers who was detained.

The charges of gambling have been dropped. There was no money involved.

There were no prizes.

The event is known as a "club duplicate pairs" and is played in small clubs all over the world.I will write more when I get home from the police station.

Please post your experience in the Pattaya Forum, as opposed to replying here, where it will get buried and 95% of us will never see it.

Thanks!

Better still send your story to a British Newspaper Together with this link

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not going to read all 11 TV pages now. My guess is every post will say just about the same.

Just wondering where the 160.000baht (32farangsx5000bahtfine/bail) will go.

Did somebody needed to pay-up on his mortgage or car, because that is the only reason I have think of for doing this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The British Club in Bangkok hold Bridge sessions.

It's not Gambling!

Exactly - another den of iniquity indulging in illegal activities. The rich colonial types she scant disregard for the laws of countries they once sort to dominate and corrupting the morals of pure innocent minded Thais. Off with their heads!

Returning to reality, which is something the BiB could never do as they've never been there, I read the President of the Thai Bridge Association went to explain things to the chief cop. I believe he his a very senior gentleman from a senior family. That conversation must have been very interesting as by what the BiB say every bridge club in Thailand is breaking the law.

Look for some really silly face saving words coming out from the BiB very soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Get those scum bag Farangs.

Throw them in Jail, give them very heavy fines, deport them , and black list them for 99 years. giggle.gifgiggle.gifgiggle.gif

The Pattaya Pantomime, just gets more funny every week.

Wonder who the pleasant person was who grassed on them and why ? must have been a right story that one

The bust of the century. facepalm.giffacepalm.giffacepalm.gif

You have every right to be sarcastic, and yes, the whole episode is both hilarious and pathetic, but let's have a thought of deep sympathy for the 74 year-old guy who actually got arrested. Being arrested in this country is not something I would ever want to go through, whatever the reasons.

As for the guy who ratted out on them, let's just say that, once you've spent a few years in this country, you learn that grassing up is nothing short of a national sport, and it's a sad, disconcerting discovery.

Why are so many Thais prone to do that ?

There must be more than one factor but I'd say that the main one stems from a very rigid pyramidal society where each degree has very little room for independance and must kowtow to those on the degrees above. Humiliation is constant, and must be covered up with a smile, even though it is a very painful experience for all Asians, known as 'losing face'.

The resulting accumulated frustration is unfathomable. Ratting out people is one of the meanest forms of revenge. Many, if not most Thais, suffer from both a superiority and inferiority complex with regard to white people (whereas most white people have only the former with regard to non-whites). Every single white business owner I have met in Thailand was grassed out at least once by one or several Thais (staff, neighbors, family, 'friends'), and they have a field day because doing business in this country 100% by the book is near impossible, so there is always one or more points where you just have to 'make do'. These 'loopholes' ought to be called 'wells of corruption', and the combination of grassing out and corruption is a highly stinky one.

Welcome to Thailand, brave entrepreneurs !

Oh dear, I think somebody needs a hug. ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.





×
×
  • Create New...