Bangkok: An Australian bridge champion was one of 31 Westerners pressured to sign what they say were false declarations that they had been gambling in Thailand. Avon Wilsmore, who has won three Australian National Championships, said members of the Pattaya bridge club who were hauled into custody during a genteel afternoon playing bridge on   February 3 were told that unless they signed the declarations they would be detained indefinitely.  
"I have quite an aversion to signing false declarations," said Mr Wilsmore, a member of the Double Bay Bridge Club. But he said after hours being detained at Pattaya police station, a lawyer advised them to sign. "Her view was that this 'confession' was no big deal, we could retract and contest the matter in court," Mr Wilsmore said. "Getting home was preferred, so that's what we did." The players said they told police they were not gambling, which is illegal in Thailand, and playing only for points. Mr Wilsmore had to pay $194 bail and had his passport confiscated. More than 40 police, soldiers and local officials raided a second-floor restaurant premises where the players meet to play bridge three times a week. Pattaya's police chief Sukthat Pumphanmuang defended the raid, saying police were "just doing their job" after a complaint was made. Police said investigation findings would be sent to prosecutors next week.