The disrespect for the law evidenced throughout a raid at Club One Pattaya, a popular club in Chon Buri, last weekend is absolutely nothing except stunning.
Not just was the home entertainment operator keeping the place open beyond the lawfully allowed hours, and offering alcohols without a licence, however a minimum of a few of their customers were likewise discovered to be taking narcotics.
On the other hand, a video that has actually gone viral revealed Nitipat Chokchaithanaporn, among the executives at the club, shouting at authorities for carrying out a crackdown on the place in Bang Lamung district at 3am on a Sunday early morning.
Rather of apologising, or revealing any type of contrition, he wailed upon them the following words: “I’ve invested 100 million baht … What power do you need to concern jail me? I’m currently cleared. Why does not the guv come here to check for himself?”
Such a brazen response asks the concern: How did regional authorities and authorities permit the scenario to deteriorate to such a level that the club owner presumed he could flout the law so honestly?
While Mr Nitipat shook his fist, 3 team member apparently prompted 200 customers, consisting of foreign travelers, to overlook officers’ ask for urine tests and rapidly get away the scene. In spite of this, police discovered various bags with narcotics inside.
The following day, Mr Nitipat and Bank Wansrithong, another club executive, provided a public apology.
” I’m so sorry that my reckless remarks harmed the credibility of guvs and high-ranking policeman. I was really intoxicated,” Mr Nitipat stated. “I consumed a lot of glasses of red wine. I have actually never ever fulfilled these guvs or high-ranking authorities prior to … I do not understand them personally.”
Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, an assistant to the nationwide authorities chief, informed the media the other day that Mr Nitipat has actually been charged with cash laundering and ownership of narcotics, and launched on bail. Cops are likewise penetrating whether the club and its executives are connected to a prohibited betting site owned by Chinese financiers, he included.
No matter what the result of the probe is, the case shines a spotlight on the dark underworld of Chon Buri, where numerous services appear to nonchalantly flex and break the law.
There have actually been allegations that authorities consistently get “tea cash” in exchange for disregarding to such behaviour; and, regretfully, a few of these have actually been corroborated.
In August, a fire at the unlawfully customized Mountain B club in Sattahip district caused ratings of death and numerous injuries. Once again, a regional authorities apparently “overlooked” the unlawful building and construction work.
In July 2021, Somchai “Longjoo” Jutikitdecha, called the “Betting Kingpin of the Eastern Area”, masterminded the murder of a motorbike taxi rider in Pattaya. He had actually currently been apprehended in 2020 for opening a betting den that caused a cluster of Covid-19 cases in Rayong province and was presumed of conspiring in cash laundering.
If police officers had actually assembled the bad guys, these mafia kingpins would not have the ability to grow, not to mention fund some regional political leaders.
In the most recent case, nationwide authorities chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas has actually apparently sent out an unique group to check out it and trace all the cash deals that were included.
Society can just hope that this time, the authorities capture the masterminds in addition to any conspiring police.
Editorial
Bangkok Post editorial column
These editorials represent Bangkok Post ideas about existing problems and scenarios.
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