Rassada –
Ukrainian and Russian gamblers were arrested at a house in Rassada, Phuket City early in the morning on Wednesday (March 20th).
The Phuket Provincial Police told the Phuket Express that at 1:45 A.M. this morning they raided a house on the Thep Krasattri Road. The raid came after police received a tip-off from a concerned citizen that there were many foreigners who came to the house for gambling but they did not allow entry to Thais.
The house door was opened and the officers entered the house to find many foreigners who were playing poker. Police arrested Mr. OLEKSANDR, a Ukrainian national, the leader of the gambling den. Other gamblers arrested were Mr. EVGENI, Mr. RODION, Mr. RUSLAN, all Russian nationals. Ms. EKATERINA, a Russian national, was allegedly doing a job exchanging cash for gambling chips. Their last names were withheld by police.
Seized from them were three sets of cards, 318 currency chips (worth 79,600 Baht) and a dealer button. They were taken to the Phuket City Police Station.
Mr. OLEKSANDR and Ms. EKATERINA are facing charges of operating an illegal gambling establishment. Mr. EVGENI, Mr. RODION, and Mr. RUSLAN are facing charges of participating in illegal gambling. All admitted to the charges except Ms. EKATERINA.
Thailand has some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the world but is now considering legal casinos even as national raids on illegal casinos, like this one last night led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, continue.
