The Criminal Court has denied bail for the proprietor of the Diamond KTV karaoke bar and 52 customers, many of whom are Chinese nationals, on the grounds that their assembly for alleged drug abuse constitutes a threat to society.
All 53 suspects were taken to court by Makkasan police on Sunday to seek a continuation of their detention during theinvestigation, following their arrest late on Friday night. Several kinds of illegal narcotics, such as ketamine, cocaine, Ecstasy and Happy Water, along with drug paraphernalia, were found on the premises.
The proprietor, a 34-year-old Chinese man, identified as Nui Oi, has been charged with operating an entertainment venue without a license, selling liquor without a license and selling liquor beyond the hours permitted by law and allowing customers to carry weapons and drugs into the premises.
Makkasan police have divided the 53 suspects into three groups. The first group consists of 18 Chinese and Thai customers, who have been charged with possession ofCategory 1 narcotics. The second group consists of 23 Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Myanmar nationals who are charged with possession of Category 1 and Category 2 narcotics. The third group consists of 11 Chinese charged with possessing Category 1 narcotics and Category 1 psychotropic substances.
All the suspects applied for bail, offering bonds ranging from 50,000-75,000 baht each, but the court denied all the applications, citing the serious nature of their alleged offences.
Following the raid on the Diamond KTV karaoke bar by officers from the Children and Women Protection Division, the superintendent and deputy superintendent of Makkasan police station were immediately transferred to inactive posts at the operations centre of the Royal Thai Police, pending disciplinary probes.
The Huai Khwang district administration has ordered that the building, in which the entertainment venue is located, be closed for five years and that no permit be issued for the use of the building during that period.
The building used to house a massage parlour, which closed due to poor business. A Thai man, believed to be the nominee of a Chinese businessman, sought permission for a karaoke bar in the building, but permission was denied. The bar opened illegally anyway, until it was raided last Friday.
