All-night party raided

CHERNG TALAY: An all-night party at a Japanese businessman’s holiday home came to an abrupt end when police raided the mansion at 8 am yesterday and tested the 30 revelers for drugs and netted three gamblers. The Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, led the raid after police received complaints at about 4 am from local residents who said the party kicked off at about midnight. Officers arrived to find the 30 Thai and foreign fun-lovers dancing and swimming in the pool. Three were found gambling with dominoes. Col Apirak told the Gazette that three revelers tested positive for drug use. They were named as Serwando Tacini, 21, Jiraporn Looklik, 30, and Ratchapawadee Ahamadjura, 27. “All three have been released pending urinalysis by the Phuket Provincial Health Office. We expect to have the results in about a week,” Col Apirak said, adding that Mr Tacini claimed that he had not taken any illegal drugs, but that he had taken anti-malaria pills. Charin Panchalad, 35, who is caretaker at the mansion while the owner is abroad, was found in possession of a pistol loaded with five bullets, which he claimed belonged to a friend, whom he named only as “Somkid”. “The gun has been sent to Surat Thani for ballistics examination to check that it has not been used in any crimes and to check who the registered owner is,” Col Apirak said. He added that the three domino players, whom he did not name, were charged with gambling. Dominoes and betting slips were seized as evidence.