Sakoo OrBorTor chairman arrested for gambling

THALANG: Surapong Panyawai, Chairman of the Sakoo Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), was among seven men arrested for gambling during funerary rites on Monday night. K. Surapong denied the charge, and the claim that he was the ringleader of the gambling party, and has posted bail. He is now waiting for his case to be heard. If found guilty, K. Surapong may receive a double punishment of both a fine and loss of his job. The other six men, who police did not name, allegedly confessed to the charges and were each fined 1,500 baht. Pol Lt Col Jakrit Srisuwan, Deputy Superintendent of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette that the men were gambling at a house 50 meters from the Sakoo OrBorTor offices. Six officers accompanied Col Jakrit on the raid. They found the seven men playing popun, a dice game, for money. Some 4,000 baht in cash was collected as evidence. “It is a provincial policy to crack down particularly hard on gambling during funerary ceremonies,” said Col Jakrit. Without elaborating, Col Jakrit concluded by saying, “[Police] treat everybody the same. Arrests are not made to persecute people.”