All bets are off according to spokeswoman Pongsri Tharaphume who revealed “an investigation will be launched” into an incident involving an unnamed MP who allegedly engaged in playing actions at his workplace in Parliament.
Parliament president Chuan Leekpai has requested an investigation to find out whether or not the MP violated the House’s code of ethics. The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed on behalf of Chuan by Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, reported Bangkok Post.
Srisuwan reported that the MP, who’s a member of a “long-established” political celebration, played card video games for cash with three different MPs in his office on Wednesday, January eleven.
Srisuwan claimed that a spycam recorded the incident and that the video clip was despatched to him anonymously. The video clip confirmed a transparent picture of the MP, however the photographs of the opposite three MPs had been less clear. Gambling is illegal in Thailand, and it is a criminal offence beneath the MP ethics legislation in addition to the Gambling Act.
Chuan, who also chairs the House committee on MPs’ moral conduct, will decide on an applicable punishment if the allegation is proven to be true.
Srisuwan emphasized that playing shouldn’t be tolerated in parliament.
“This is a big deal. Parliament ought to be a gambling-free zone.”
He also alleged that gambling activities had taken place in the old Parliament constructing on U-thong Road, however there was insufficient evidence to take action in opposition to any alleged wrongdoers.
Srisuwan claimed that the MP who hosted the card game represents a constituency located roughly a hundred kilometres from Bangkok. Srisuwan said…
“The MP has a historical past of playing, and it was not the primary time he had performed cards in Parliament.”
Jackpot noticed what he believed were tokens on the table that could presumably be used later to redeem players’ winnings. Pongsri expressed gratitude on Chuan’s behalf to Srisuwan for bringing the matter to his attention via the petition.
Giveaway isn’t the only high-profile figure to face playing charges. Last week a superintendent from the Provincial Police Region 2 was accused of being the mastermind behind the gambling web site saipay69 which has sixteen,000 gamblers registered and a turnover of over 50 million baht..