The threat was made against Col Sompop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command while he was leading a raid at a neighbourhood gambling den in Chalong on Monday (Dec 7).
Navy personnel arrested more than 40 suspects after people were caught playing the popular three-dice game “High-Low”. Officers also seized slot machines found inside the house. (See story here.)
During the raid, one woman who was arrested gave Col Sompop her phone and said that someone wanted to talk to him, Col Sompop said.
“I took the phone from her and a man was on the other end. He said that he was an Army colonel and asked me to dismiss the case and release the suspects.
“After I refused, he started to condemn me with very rude words. He also threatened that he had powerful friends who would have me transferred out of Phuket,” Col Sompop told The Phuket News.
Col Sompop recorded the call, but the recording was not clear.
“I have reported the incident and sent the recording to my commanding officer,” Col Sompop said.
Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has also been notified of the incident, he added.
“I have checked the number of the phone that was used to make the call and it does belong to an Army colonel,” said Col Sompop.
“However, we don’t want to reveal his name at this stage. We have contacted his superior officer and asked him to investigate.”
Col Sompop did reveal that the name of the Army colonel allegedly involved begins with a Thai equivalent of the letter “P” and that the man reportedly has some connection with a restaurant currently under investigation for encroaching on public land on Ley Pang Beach.
“The Navy has asked for cooperation from the army colonel’s commanding officer in investigating this case,” Col Sompop said.
“We would like this colonel’s commander and his unit to investigate the incident, but as it is an Army matter, they will determine how he is to be disciplined,” he added.