Village Chief Accused Of Gambling While Reporting Others
A village chief in Buriram Province faces allegations of organizing illegal gambling games while previously having residents arrested for the same offense, with villagers now demanding his prosecution or removal.
On June 30, residents from Lam Duan Subdistrict in Krasan District, Buriram Province, brought video evidence to the provincial Center for Maintaining Righteousness to lodge complaints against a village chief. They allege he organized illegal hi-lo gambling games in the village multiple times despite being a government official who previously had villagers arrested for gambling and publicly announced the village was gambling-free.
Representatives Mr. M and Mrs. Daeng (pseudonyms) explained that villagers had previously gambled casually at funerals, betting small amounts of 5-10 baht per round, until the village chief reported them to police. After facing legal consequences, residents stopped gambling. However, the village chief himself allegedly began organizing hi-lo games, violating both the law and his own announced village rules. When residents filed a complaint at the district Center for Maintaining Righteousness on May 11, nearly two months passed without any action. They have now escalated to the provincial level, demanding either prosecution or the chief's removal from office. Residents argue this constitutes selective enforcement and protection of an official who breaks the law.
