An illegal Chinese gambling den was raided by Thai police where nearly a dozen people were found breaking the coronavirus curfew.<br /><br />The group were playing solitaire and poker in a illegal casino hidden on top of a Chinese restaurant in Pattaya, on the east coast of the country. <br /><br />Pattaya police chief Khemmarin Pissamai said they received a tip that an illegal gathering is taking place at the VIP area of the restaurant's second floor during the curfew period.<br /><br />Police raided the property on Thursday night and found a decorated VIP karaoke room with people gambling inside. <br /><br />Seven Chinese men, two Thai women, and one Russian woman were found playing card games on a custom table were arrested.<br /><br />The owner of the restaurant named Beijing Helongjiang, 50, was arrested. Officers also recovered gambling stakes worth 100,000 baht.<br /><br />Police Colonel Khemarin Pitsamai, who lead the raid, said: ''All of those who were caught will be sent for Covid-19 testing. They lack social conscience to follow the rules while Thailand is under a state of emergency because of Covid-19. The government has campaigned and worked hard to make people follow social distancing rules. Instead, this group opened a gambling den without fear of the law.''<br /><br />Thailand issued an Emergency Decree which enforced an overnight curfew between 10PM to 4AM to stop the spread of the coronavirus.<br /><br />Violators of the Emergency Decree are fined of up to 100,000 baht and may be jailed for up to two years.
