SA KAEW, Jan 18 (TNA) - Local officials at a Thai-Cambodian checkpoint in Thailand's eastern province of SaKaew have proposed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek diplomatic links to rescue nine Thais who have been under Cambodian police custody for allegedly cheating in casino gambling.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Dusit Krueyai, head of the Thai-Cambodian coordination center in the province's Aranyaprathet District, said the nine were handed over to Cambodian police for investigation after they were apprehended by staff of the Cambodian Star Vegas Casino in Poi Pet.
The casino has alleged the Thais of pocketing about 95 million baht from cheating three times since late last year.
It was not clear when they were taken into police custody.
''My office has sent some officials to coordinate with the Cambodian side to provide helps to the Thais. We were informed that the casino handed them all to Cambodian police,'' said Pol. Maj. Gen. Dusit.
The senior Thai police said six of the arrested had been sent to the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh for further investigation and possible trial. Another three were reportedly detained at Poi Pet Police Station.
The Thai police said Cambodian officials have refused to provide details about the arrests.
''Our officials already informed the Thai-Cabodian Border Committee who would further ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the matter with the Cambodian government,'' said Pol. Maj. Gen. Dusit.
Meanwhile, Pol. Lt. Vicharn Jittayanant, an investigation from Klong Leuk Police Station in Aranyaprathet, said that a relative of two Thais who were arrested in Cambodia reported the incident to police on Monday.
Noppadol Chaisakdej, 47, from Prachinburi province, came to see the police to seek help, as his younger sister, Weerawan and her husband, Pongthep Boonsopha, were among the nine Thais who were arrested in the Cambodian casino.
''There have been no other relatives of other arrests coming forward to seek helps and from our investigation, it looks like the allegations have got grounds.,'' said the police.
The investigator said the casino held a press conference after it arrested the Thais and alleged that they had cheated the casino 95 million baht altogether.
The nine were said to pocket over 14 million baht on their first cheat on 22 November, and again on 19 December when they got away with more than 28 million baht.
''The last cheat occurred on 3 January. as they left with over 52 million baht.
They were all arrested while trying to cheat the fourth time,'' he said.
''We have found that they had transferred the money into a bank account in Thailand three times in November, December and this month before they were arrested,'' said the police.
He said the bank account is held in the name of Mrs. Rungthip Pongthornpisarn.
However, police have not yet found out how much money was transferred each time.
