Thai Anti-Crime Crusader Accused in $30M Online Gambling Probe

[suzanne5223]

One of Thailand’s best-known anti-crime campaigners has been jailed pending trial after cyber police accused him of involvement in an illegal online boxing betting operation that allegedly handled more than $29 million.

Atchariya Ruangrattanapong, chairman of the Crime Victims Assistance Club and a longtime vocal critic of alleged police corruption, was denied bail Monday, October 5, after appearing at Bangkok Criminal Court.

The court approved a police request to detain the 59-year-old for 12 days while investigators continue examining financial records and questioning witnesses.

Atchariya faces allegations of public fraud, money laundering, illegal electronic betting on boxing, and offenses under Thailand’s Computer Crime Act. He denies all the charges and has suggested the investigation is politically motivated.

Cybercrime officers arrested him Saturday near the Om Noi Boxing Stadium in Samut Sakhon province under a warrant issued the previous day.

$1B Baht Betting Network
Police say more than 1 billion baht, or approximately US$29.6 million, flowed through an alleged online Muay Thai betting operation known as “Muay Pak Yok Variety.”

Investigators identified 212 transactions worth more than 40 million baht ($1.2 million) that they claim linked Atchariya to people associated with the betting operation.

Authorities also examined Atchariya’s personal bank account and an account belonging to the Crime Victims Assistance Club.

Police say the personal account recorded 1,196 incoming and outgoing transactions involving approximately 191 million baht ($57 million), while the club account handled more than 168 million baht ($50 million) through 5,140 transactions. Investigators claim some of the money trail connected donors to boxing gamblers and the alleged betting network.

More seriously, police allege Atchariya solicited donations through the club on the basis that the money would be used to assist crime victims, but some funds were instead used for purposes connected to gambling.

Atchariya has rejected that allegation and said the club’s account had been closed since 2022. He also insisted he could explain the financial activity identified by investigators.

Claims He Is Being Framed
The activist has spent years publicly challenging law enforcement and pursuing high-profile criminal cases. His Crime Victims Assistance Club frequently campaigns on behalf of people who believe they have been failed by police or the justice system.

Source https://www.casino.org/news/thai-anti-crime-crusader-accused-in-30m-online-gambling-probe/

[yhiaali3]

It is difficult to judge in such cases where both sides exchange accusations, as the police say they have evidence of Atchariya’s involvement, while he denies all these charges and says they are politically motivated because of his activism in helping victims of crime and exposing police corruption.

Historically, the Thai police have had many corruption cases, most notably cases of protecting illegal gambling networks, where many Thai police officers have been arrested over the years on charges of receiving monthly bribes from operators of gambling clubs and illegal websites.
Therefore, I do not rule out the possibility that the police fabricated this charge against him.

[Ziskinberg]

It is difficult to judge in such cases where both sides exchange accusations, as the police say they have evidence of Atchariya’s involvement, while he denies all these charges and says they are politically motivated because of his activism in helping victims of crime and exposing police corruption.

This is still accusation, no conviction yet.  However, let's consider these details....

1) where did he get the amount going in/out to his bank?
2) why it's related to gambling?

I assume this fund is suppose to be a donations for the purpose (the office he is holding - anti crime)... but instead of using it to the victims, he use the funds to finance his gambling addiction. 

[Darker45]

It's hard to make a conjecture based only on what's written here. It's possible the man is indeed involved in shady activities. It's also possible he's just being framed. It could easily be either, especially coming from somebody who doesn't have much knowledge of the context and socio-political culture of the country.

Based on the realities of another country not so far away, it's not surprising for an advocate against crime to be a criminal himself/herself. Equally, it's also not surprising for somebody who fights against powerful criminals to suddenly be arrested for a crime one didn't commit.

I can only hope the truth prevails here.

[Julien_Olynpic]

He's a complex and interesting man, judging by the description and the charges brought against him. He has a rather turbulent biography, as well as an equally interesting case: a club for assisting victims of crime. I've honestly never heard of anything like it. In many countries, political provocations would surely take place under the guise of such a club, especially if the person positions themselves as an "anti-corruption fighter." We know that the most willing to fight corruption are the corrupt themselves. People not involved in corruption generally view it more leniently, simply as an inevitable evil. But this man is also closely connected to sports betting and boxing... In short, we can only know the truth after a lengthy investigation.

[Ruttoshi]

There is no prove yet that Atchariya is guilty and it might be a fabricated story just to get him down since he's after the police and the justice system that have failed in carrying out justice for the common man. I don't trust these police officers because most of them are dirty down here in my country. As long as you are against the way they settle cases in an unrightful way, they will see you as a threat and an enemy.

No one knows who is saying the truth here maybe, the police or Atchariya but time shall tell.

[Die_empty]

He's a complex and interesting man, judging by the description and the charges brought against him. He has a rather turbulent biography, as well as an equally interesting case: a club for assisting victims of crime. I've honestly never heard of anything like it. In many countries, political provocations would surely take place under the guise of such a club, especially if the person positions themselves as an "anti-corruption fighter." We know that the most willing to fight corruption are the corrupt themselves. People not involved in corruption generally view it more leniently, simply as an inevitable evil. But this man is also closely connected to sports betting and boxing... In short, we can only know the truth after a lengthy investigation.

He is claiming that the evidence the government is using to prosecute him was framed up. This is possible considering that he has been an outspoken critic of corruption in the country's police force. The police might want to silence him with these allegations. So it could be politically motivated.

Nobody is perfect. It might also be that Atchariya really engaged in money laundering, illegal gambling, and public fraud. Greed can cause anybody to do things they fight against.

It would be better to hand over the case to an independent investigator. The police might be biased if they are behind this.

[Fortify]

It's not unheard of that a campaigner on a topic is actually a hypocrite and involved themselves, but the evidence here will need to be studied closely. I'm not sure what corruption is like in Thailand, but it seems like he would make an excellent scapegoat if some dodgy police officers needed to knock out some competition on behalf of the real criminals. They get to find a fall guy and stop somebody who is upsetting the operation by bringing attention to it. However that does assume a few different police officers who brought the case are being bribed and that might be equally difficult to prove. The judge has to pay careful attention on this case to rule out the idea it's a setup.

[Natalim]

No one knows who is saying the truth here maybe, the police or Atchariya but time shall tell.

He will not be arrested without proof, so at the current situation the police is more believable, and I'm sure the police has evidence on hand because they could be sued if they violate the law by arresting someone without proof. The bank records, that is hard to deny, and we are talking of millions of dollars here, so that is already significant, and if the one that is arrested could not justify that, that could really put him in jail.

[Ishicryptic]

It would be a slap on the face of justice if an anticrime crusader is found guilty of the same crime that they are fighting against, it will make the public in such societies to question the integrity of every crime fighting advocates including the genuine ones. I think that since the matter is still under investigation their citizens shouldn't be quick to judge him or give up on every crime fighters and advocates for justice because of one bad egg.

It is sad that some of these crimes are somehow linked to gambling, illegalities like money laundering are affiliated with gambling, also the issue of underground gambling is a problem for the perception of gambling especially for some none gamblers. Not minding that there are genuine gamblers who gamble on government regulated casinos.

[FinneysTrueVision]

It could be that he was targeted for being outspoken against police corruption, but that doesn’t automatically mean he is innocent. If there is a paper trail, then the case might actually be solid. I don’t view illegal gambling as the worst thing in the world and that alone doesn’t make him less credible when fighting against corrupt authorities. It is the part about asking for donations under false pretenses where he looks really bad. If that is proven to be true, then they are not deserving of any sympathy.

[Charles-Tim]

I do not think illegal gambling is the reason he is arrested, he used donated funds (that was intended to help crime victims) to illegal gambling activities. That is punishable understand law.

But I hope the court will make proper investigation and not gang up against him as he denied it, saying the police fabricated evidence against him.

[danherbias07]

It's possible that he is being framed. Like what is said in the article, he was a long-time warrior in the anti-crime unit, and I think there's someone behind all this. As he said, it's probably a political attack.

He may have some proof to prove his innocence in this case, but because he is jailed, it will be difficult to move. His lawyers should help out, and they must be trusted people he knows because it's possible that whoever is doing this has connections, and they may betray him.
His claim that the club account being closed should be investigated thoroughly.

[Maslate]

So if he is being set up here then I would say the police are so bad. hmm.

It can be so related to our country, not the same case but the ones who are against the government can expect a case and even be put in jail.
This is corruption within the police force and if they have allies in the higher positions then its hard to fight against them.

The title says, Anti-crime crusader (this person accused), shouldn't the police be with him as they are on the same goal. what happened?