Governor’s foray closes noisy venues

PHUKET: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi last night ordered the closure of 30 entertainment venues for trading without proper licenses or for creating excessive noise. Gov Pongpayome, with Vice-Governor Manit Wattanasen and 28 officers from the Provincial Defense Office and Phuket Town Police Station, began the “silent night” raids at 9 pm in Saphan Hin, Phuket Town. No less than 12 karaoke bars were raided, and the Governor decided on the spot to order their closure for 30 days. The Governor told bar owners they had made so much noise that he had received complaints from irritated people living in the area. Next the group moved to Nanai Rd Sois 1 and 2 in Patong, where Gov Pongpayome ordered the closure of 18 karaoke bars found operating without entertainment licenses. Two of the bars were also fined for selling alcohol without a license. The sortie returned to Phuket Town and raided X-Zone nightclub on Chana Charoen Rd at 1 am this morning. Police officers chose 20 people at random and demanded urine samples on the spot, for testing for illicit drug use. One man tested positive and was taken to Phuket Town Police Station where his name and address were recorded. His urine sample will be analyzed further by the Provincial Health Office.