Five top police officers, attached to Thung Mahamek, are expected to be transferred after four people, including a police officer, were shot dead at an illegal casino in the Yan Nawa district of Bangkok on Monday night.
The dead officer was identified as Pol Maj Wattaseth Samniangprasert, an enquiry inspector attached to Samaedam police station.
Police rushed to the casino, located on the ground floor of a four-storey shop-house in Soi 66 of Rama III Road, at about 10pm Monday, after they were alerted by local residents after they had heard gunfire.
In addition to the police officer, another man and two women, believed to be customers, were found dead at the illegal casino, which was operated by a man identified only as “Hia Tee”.
Some of the residents reportedly told the police that they were ordered, apparently by men from the casino, not to report the shooting, as they tried to clear the premises of gambling equipment before the authorities arrived.
Police said that the casino operator had just moved operations from the Klongton area and the casino was frequented by both Thai and Chinese gamblers.
Quoting witnesses, police said that there were about 60 gamblers in the casino and one Chinese gambler drew a pistol, after he thought that he had been cheated. Pol Maj Wattaseth, who was at the scene, tried to mediate the conflict, but was shot dead, allegedly by the gunman.
