22 arrested over illegal gambling websites in Bangkok

Police have arrested 22 suspects following crackdown on online gambling sites across six provinces today.

Of the 22, 16 were arrested for alleged links to sbotded.com, sbolucky666.com, sbohero888.com and sure999.com which allegedly provide people with online betting.

“The websites had a combined cash flow of over 300 million baht,” said Pol Lt-General Surachete Hakparn, He was speaking in his capacity as chief of Thailand’s Action Taskforce for Information Technology Crime Suppression.

Surachete led the raid into a condo in Bangkok, where one of the suspects offering these online services was believed to be based. Of the three suspects arrested at the condo, one told police he was paid up to 15,000 baht a month to find online gamblers and arranging their credit line.

“All 16 suspects will face gambling and money-laundering charges,” Surachete also said that he will discuss asset seizure with the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

“We will investigate further to nail down the masterminds.”

Surachete also warned celebrities against advertising with online gambling websites after receiving reports that some entertainment figures were engaging in such advertisements.

“If you don’t stop, you will face legal action too,” he warned.

According to Surachate, his agency has already brought down 748 websites for operating online gambling and 36 others for violating intellectual property laws.

“We have lodged complaints against 74 suspects in 41 cases, and already frozen 149 related bank accounts,” he added.

SOURCE: The Nation