Man arrested in VCD raid

KATHU: After complaining that it was frequently difficult to arrest sellers of fake goods, officials yesterday finally scored with the arrest of a man and the seizure of 8,040 VCDs with a street value of 800,000 baht. Tharadol Thongruang, Deputy Director of the Phuket Commercial Affairs Office, told the Gazette that PCAO and Tungtong Police officers raided a shop in Moo Baan Irawadee Ketho and arrested Anumit Chainimit, from Bangkok, who allegedly confessed to owning the shop and selling copy CDs. Of the 8,040 VCDs seized, 300 were X-rated films, 390 were Thai movies, while the rest were Western movies with Thai subtitles. Police also found a computer and a projecter that they believe were used to produce and view CD copies. “The suspect admitted that he owned the shop but said that he got most of the CDs from another shop in town,” K. Tharadol said. “He said he was trying to quit this line of work because he knew that officers were now very strict in checking,” he added. Anumit was charged with producing copy CDs with the intent to sell or rent for public use, for which the penalty is a fine of 100,000 to 800,000 baht, a jail term of six months to four years, or both. He remains in custody at the Tungtong Police Station.