Gov leads raid to “save gambling children’

PHUKET TOWN: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi led a raid on a gambling den in Poonphol Night Plaza on Saturday night after receiving a letter from parents worried about children gambling. Arriving at the address at about 7:30 pm, officers found 20 men, one woman and two boys, aged 14 and 16, in a room watching a soccer match. In the room, officers also found 33,020 baht in cash and more than 500 gambling forms on the floor. During questioning at the house, everyone in the room confessed to gambling on the match they were watching when the raid took place. All of the adults were taken to the Phuket Town Police Station, where they were fined the maximum 2,000 baht each for illegal gambling. Chaiyarak Jantha, the owner of the house, was also charged with providing a venue for illegal gambling. The two boys were taken to the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center, where they will be cared for until their case is heard by the Juvenile and Family Affairs Court.