Three arrested in porn VCD raids

PHUKET TOWN: Police last night arrested three men and seized 191 lewd VCDs in raids on CD vendors at the Tai Rod market, near the Shell gas station on Phang Nga Rd. Led by Phuket Provincial Security Affairs Chief Nikorn Torhiranyapreuk and Pol Capt Sommai Ornkam, of Phuket Town Police Station, a team of six plainclothes officers raided the vendors at 8 pm. Officers arrested Thanate Inpat, 25, from Phuket; Somporn Thepthong, 48, also from Phuket; and Rungroj Ruengrong, 29, from Petchabun. K. Nikorn explained that the raids were organized after receiving complaints from shoppers at the market. Capt Sommai said, “The three vendors were all charged with possessing and distributing lewd materials for sale, and possessing audio and visual materials that have not been approved for sale.” All three were released after each posted 30,000-baht bail. If the men are found guilty they face, for each charge, a maximum penalty of three years in jail, a fine of 6,000 baht, or both.