Man arrested for running bullfighting betting site in Phatthalung

Cyber police apprehended a 39 year old man from Khao Chaison suspected of operating an online bullfighting gambling website. He confessed to being the administrator of a Line group, setting betting odds and streaming matches for group members.

Yesterday, August 7, Police Colonel Theera Chueasuwan, Superintendent of Division 4, and his team, including Police Lieutenant Colonel Thepprasit Samsi and Police Lieutenant Colonel Kritphop Kaewrod, executed an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court. They arrested Kowit, known as Joy, at his residence in Village No.1, Khuan Khanun subdistrict, Khao Chaison district, Phatthalung province.

The charges against Kowit include organising and advertising illegal gambling through electronic media without permission, conspiring with others to commit money laundering, and participating in money laundering activities. The police seized several items from his home, including an Apple iPhone 14, an Apple iPhone 11, two bank passbooks, and three notebook computers.

Before the arrest, the police received orders from their superiors to investigate illegal gambling activities conducted through electronic media in the OA Mittaphap Wua Chon 88 Line group. Following a thorough investigation, they identified Kowit as the primary suspect.

Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued, and the police discovered that Kowit had rented the mentioned house. They then proceeded to inspect and apprehend him.

Initially, Kowit admitted to acting as the admin of the Mittaphap Wua Chon 88 Line group. His role involved setting betting odds for bullfighting and streaming the matches using the equipment found in his home, including computers and mobile phones.

The police had been closely monitoring the activities in the OA Mittaphap Wua Chon 88 Line group, which was suspected of facilitating illegal gambling. The investigation revealed that Kowit was using his residence as a hub for these activities, employing various electronic devices to stream live bullfighting events and manage bets, reported KhaoSod.

The confiscation of multiple electronic devices and banking documents further supports the charges of money laundering and illegal gambling operations. The police are now focused on tracing the financial transactions linked to the gambling activities to uncover any further connections and participants involved in the illegal scheme.