Tip-off allows gamblers to escape raid

PHUKET TOWN: Two people were arrested for betting on soccer after a raid on a house in Soi Lim Sue Jue last night, but officers had hoped to net many more. At around 8:30 pm, Vice Governor Manit Wattanasen led 30 officers from the Phuket Provincial Defense Office and Phuket Town Police on the raid on a one-story house behind San Suk Temple. Pol Lt Sommai Oncom, of Phuket Town Police Station, said, “We have received many complaints over a long period about gambling in the area, and neighbors submitted a complaint to the Governor about the noise.” The officers arrested two suspects, Utorn Plueksarak, 39, the owner of the house, and 28-year-old Pattanachai Saeton, and seized 47,120 baht in cash and a notebook containing a list of names. The two told police that there had been about 20 punters in the house that evening, but that they escaped after receiving a tip-off about the raid. When the police arrived, they found only Uthorn and Pattanachai, who, police allege, had just arrived to bring money to pay to Uthorn. Uthorn was charged with providing a venue for illegal gambling and was freed on bail of 30,000 baht. Pattanachai was charged with illegal gambling and was released after paying bail of 5,000 baht.