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

[SuperBitMan]

When you are fighting crime and police corruption and you are also involved in crime, this will create a way for the police to search you to know if you are also clean and when they find out that you are not clean, they will make you suffer for those attacks on them.
This might also been an allegation but I know that time will tell if he is actually a corrupt person or just a mere allegation.
There are people that are involved in gambling scams and they wouldn't mind to know the gravity of the shits they have done until their book of corruption is finally opened against them.

Yes, I agree with you when you are fighting a particular crime or you are fighting the government or the police. The next thing they will do is to start digging you to see if you are also corrupt so they can use that and bring you down, if your hand is clean and they really want to bring you down they may put an allegation on you just to use it to bring you down since you’re fighting them.

I don’t think it’s actually possible for we to fine out the truth because if it’s an allegation they will do everything possible to make sure they use something to get him except his lucky.

I will not say he can’t do it or it’s just a plan to bring him down, because in some situations those fighting a particular crime are guilty of that same crime they are fighting. It has happened before in this forum and is still happening.

[DubemIfedigbo001]

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.

No one is sure if this actually happened, he might be framed and he might be guilty, the police has their assumed evidence, which they'll still prove it's authenticity in the court. It's normal for him to be a target of those authorities since he obviously fights against their injustice. It's possible they carefully laid a trap for him and he fell into it. We would wait for the court proceeding to determine his fate, that's if the court isn't already compromised and working hand in have with the police and others persecuting him

[m2017]

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.

Who is that? The Puncher?

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.

Now, this looks quite interesting, especially in light of the accusation mentioned earlier.

Why is the corruption only alleged? Are you trying to say there’s no corruption there?

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.

Given his activities as an anti-crime crusader, it is quite possible that the investigation is political in nature and that the "allegedly" corrupt police are trying to "take out" their enemy.

On the other hand, no criminal has ever considered himself guilty.

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

Well, it’s a good thing there was a warrant, at least - in some countries, they detain people even without it.

$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.”

Isn't that a rather large sum for a resident of Thailand (even a criminal)?

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.

Wait, I don't get it: the figure was US$29.6 million, but now it's just US$1.2 million. Where did the rest of the money go? Is this that very instance of alleged corruption?

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.

Hmm, also claim that Thailand is a poor country. Just look at these numbers!

But at this moment doubts creep in about The Puncher’s “innocence”.

In fact, this is quite ironic, because The Puncher used his personal account for “dirty deeds”? By the way, why haven’t they thought of betting on Thai boxing for crypto currencies yet?

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.

If this is true, it is the most ironic aspect of this story, for the "crusader against corrupt crime" turns out to have been corrupt himself, in a sense.

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.

I’m getting confused now: who’s the good bad cop in this story, and who’s the "dirty" anti-crime The Puncher?

In reality, cops have simpler ways to frame someone than untangling a web of Muay Thai betting mixed with the misappropriation of donations intended for a Crime Victims Assistance Club.

[aioc]

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.

If you are a high-profile guy and you've been making the government look bad, you will be targeted and framed, he claimed that he can prove his innocence, so the battle is now in court, it now goes on who had valid evidence, but knowing transactions online, there is a trail to follow, especially if he used Cryptocurrency.

Two things will happen here: if he is being framed, the police will negotiate for him to stop his activity in exchange for dropping the case, but if the allegations are true, then he will spend years in jail.

He now claims police fabricated evidence against him in retaliation for his activism. Police have rejected his assertion, stating the prosecution stems strictly from financial evidence uncovered during the gambling investigation.

[Su-asa]

It's so sad that he used money that was donated for important things to gamble, which, of course, is very terrible.
However, the allegations are many, and truth be told,  Atchariya Ruangrattanapong won't come out so easily because there are so many allegations tied to him already.
From what Atchariya Ruangrattanapong said, he said all these allegations are just political attacks, and he denied all the allegations, but he's still in police custody for 12 days, and right now law enforcement is doing their job to investigate further. Well, as for what he said, he might be right that this is another political attack, as he's fighting against illegal police attacks on citizens and other illegal issues.

[Yorubek]

When you are fighting crime and police corruption and you are also involved in crime, this will create a way for the police to search you to know if you are also clean and when they find out that you are not clean, they will make you suffer for those attacks on them.
This might also been an allegation but I know that time will tell if he is actually a corrupt person or just a mere allegation.
There are people that are involved in gambling scams and they wouldn't mind to know the gravity of the shits they have done until their book of corruption is finally opened against them.

By committing a crime, it can never be hidden or kept secret for the rest of one's life, it is revealed to everyone at one time, whoever the criminal is, this matter is very important to always remember. I am not sure whether the person is really involved in the crime, but if it is clearly investigated, it will be confirmed whether the person is really involved in the crime. Whoever the criminal is, it is extremely important that they are given the maximum punishment so that after seeing their condition, others are afraid to imagine committing the same crime.

[YOSHIE]

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

It seems that Thailand has no end to the excitement about gambling activities, the case of Atchariya's arrest as an anti-crime activist has become a hot topic of conversation and news in various media, local and international.

This is because so far anti-crime activists are known to the public, they are active in uncovering various cases of corruption and gambling mafia, as well as cases regarding the involvement of police officers and politicians in online gambling networks in Thailand, Now they themselves are trapped in the same case, meaning thieves scream thieves, indeed in this world it is difficult to believe which people are good and bad.

When a suspicious flow of funds flowed into Atchariya's personal account from gambling activities and 168 million Baht was discovered, this was devastating for those who had already believed in the anti-crime activist, this is really something sad, I'm sure the Thai people are very devastated by this case, the Thai people's hopes that anti-crime activists could protect and make Thailand proud, actually the opposite happened, whether this case is the motive behind everything that has happened or is it actuallythat's the fact that happened.

[sompitonov]

It's so sad that he used money that was donated for important things to gamble, which, of course, is very terrible.
However, the allegations are many, and truth be told,  Atchariya Ruangrattanapong won't come out so easily because there are so many allegations tied to him already.
From what Atchariya Ruangrattanapong said, he said all these allegations are just political attacks, and he denied all the allegations, but he's still in police custody for 12 days, and right now law enforcement is doing their job to investigate further. Well, as for what he said, he might be right that this is another political attack, as he's fighting against illegal police attacks on citizens and other illegal issues.

I have no doubt that this is merely the tip of the iceberg and that there are actually quite a few athletes involved in betting or perhaps even using it to secure a win. Yet, many go undetected or authorities simply choose not to expose them while powerful, behind-the-scenes forces with a vested interest in match-fixing exert significant influence. In any case, massive sums of money circulate in the gambling world, and where there is money, there is also power, fraud, and money laundering. Even if a particular athlete fails to escape the consequences, others will likely pause for only a moment they will simply forget the incident and carry on betting whether honestly or otherwise.

[Sobz]

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.

If he iis really clean of the accusations that he is being accused of they wont succeed because cases like this are case thatnyou need to vome with evidence.  If their is genuine evidence of what he is bring accused of that means the law will take place and if he really did it no matter he tries he wont be able to cover it up. If not guilty nothing to fear or panic because at the end it is a win for him, he can sue those who accused him for damages.

[Pandu Geddon]

If the police have evidence of transactions involving the defendant with the gambling activities in question, that would certainly be enough to convict him. But if it is about stories related to his activism opposing authorities or certain government figures, this could possibly be a setup to silence him regarding a certain case. Has there been any news clarifying the situation of this case?

[Cryptomultiplier]

It's so sad that he used money that was donated for important things to gamble, which, of course, is very terrible.
However, the allegations are many, and truth be told,  Atchariya Ruangrattanapong won't come out so easily because there are so many allegations tied to him already.
From what Atchariya Ruangrattanapong said, he said all these allegations are just political attacks, and he denied all the allegations, but he's still in police custody for 12 days, and right now law enforcement is doing their job to investigate further. Well, as for what he said, he might be right that this is another political attack, as he's fighting against illegal police attacks on citizens and other illegal issues.

It's a strong case built against Atchariya, I wonder how he is going to evade this even with his claims of having legitimate proof of all funds in his account or moving through his account.
It's just so unbelievable that someone fighting against crime can become so entangled in it for political reasons because he may be offended the wrong group of persons or is simply hiding behind the mask of fighting crime while being the boss of the crimes he's fighting.

We don't know the truth yet until a verdict by any judge preciding over his case is made clear, but for now, all he got to do is pray his influence and power works in his favor or else, he's going to face a long prison sentence with heavy fines if at all and mostly he's going to be served up as an example to others.

[serjent05]

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. 

If he did this, then he can be criminally liable of fraud.  Imagine masking his actions as public service, accepting donations and use those donation to fuel his gambling activity.  Anyway, I do not think that the case is simple, I also think that there is a higher authority involved in the case if it is politically motivated.

It's a strong case built against Atchariya, I wonder how he is going to evade this even with his claims of having legitimate proof of all funds in his account or moving through his account.
It's just so unbelievable that someone fighting against crime can become so entangled in it for political reasons because he may be offended the wrong group of persons or is simply hiding behind the mask of fighting crime while being the boss of the crimes he's fighting.

We don't know the truth yet until a verdict by any judge preciding over his case is made clear, but for now, all he got to do is pray his influence and power works in his favor or else, he's going to face a long prison sentence with heavy fines if at all and mostly he's going to be served up as an example to others.

If it was the work of the authority and framed Atchariya, then there is no doubt the person will be convicted.  Regardless whether he is guilty or not.

[Smartprofit]

I've never been to Thailand myself, so I don't know what's really going on there. 🙋

However, last year I read Alex Leslie's book, which made me realize just how corrupt Thai law enforcement is. Alex Leslie himself had previously been arrested and imprisoned in Thailand along with his team. The man behind this arrest was a Russian oligarch whom Alex Leslie had once ridiculed. So it was classic revenge.

Given all this, I have very serious doubts about Atchariya's guilt. If Atchariya was truly fighting corruption in law enforcement, it's entirely possible that this was simply revenge against him. At the same time, if someone is a well-known anti-fraud activist, it's perfectly logical to portray them as a fraudster in order to deprive them of support from the media and Thai citizens.  Nobody likes a scammer...

For example, he could have been framed by employees of his own foundation (which could well have included players and people with access to the foundation's accounts).

[hedgeh0g]

I've never been to Thailand myself, so I don't know what's really going on there. 🙋

However, last year I read Alex Leslie's book, which made me realize just how corrupt Thai law enforcement is. Alex Leslie himself had previously been arrested and imprisoned in Thailand along with his team. The man behind this arrest was a Russian oligarch whom Alex Leslie had once ridiculed. So it was classic revenge.

Given all this, I have very serious doubts about Atchariya's guilt. If Atchariya was truly fighting corruption in law enforcement, it's entirely possible that this was simply revenge against him. At the same time, if someone is a well-known anti-fraud activist, it's perfectly logical to portray them as a fraudster in order to deprive them of support from the media and Thai citizens.  Nobody likes a scammer...

For example, he could have been framed by employees of his own foundation (which could well have included players and people with access to the foundation's accounts).

That might be the case, though I suspect he likely got in too deep on his own not that we’ll be told the real reasons publicly anytime soon. Thirty million is a huge sum for Thailand, given that the general population isn't particularly wealthy, whereas in the US, someone with 30 million wouldn't be considered poor. In any event, that kind of money can make anything happen, especially in the hands of corrupt individuals or those for whom honor and integrity mean nothing. And, of course, one could also consider the theory involving his inner circle.

[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.

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. 

I don't know anything about the man and whether he is really exploiting his position and gambling with donors' money. If that is true, it is very unfortunate and a betrayal of trust and position.

We are therefore faced with a thorny issue in which both parties are accused of corruption. The first party, which is the police, has a history of corruption, and the other party is also accused of corruption, breach of trust in office, and the illicit use of donors’ money.

[Agbe]

Since the court has not found him guilty of the allegations that he has been accused of. Let wait until the judgement is past and that will depends largely on the , investigations that the prosecutors will have to make and bring to the court as evidence. But this is not a very good situation that he finds himself. But the allegations before the person should have been made more clear apart from the money laundering charges other charges seems to me that, it's all political motivated. Because you can't acuse someone of illigal online gambling just like that.

The prosecutors didn't made it clear if he was actually into match fixing or not, just mare suspecting is not good enough for this type of arrest. Let see how this case will turn out to be in the coming days.

[Davidvictorson]

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.

Thank you for sharing this perspective too. In my estimation it adds more context.
Sadly, in a country where law enforcement agencies are corrupt and have had several cases brought against it is usually difficult to tell if they are clean or not.
The judge already have a lot to deal with now and I hope in the end justice is served and the innocent whoever it may be is vindicated.

[BALIK]

What a irony! One who claimed to be Messiah or defender against crime and police corruption now has smell of illegal gambling worth billion of baht in his own dish! Arrest of Atchariya Ruangrattanapong exposed true face of Thailand's so called public watchdog.

He claims it is politically motivated. But my question is, is it possible to cover up 212 suspicious transaction and more than 40 million baht gambling network transaction with politic! Cyber police has brought forward such large account floating in air?

[Moreno233]

This will be a very interesting matter especially as it involves someone who is known for anti-crime activity participating in the very things he is against.

I don't know how their law is but detaining him for as much as 12 days and denying him bail is definitely something that will not happen in some other countries.

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.

So long as there is no conviction in this case, it can be taken as accusation which can be true or false. I know that there is high chance of this statement being true because of the amount involved which can change anybody.

[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.

Who is that? The Puncher?

His name is Atchariya Ruangrattanapong. Before his arrest, he was the chairman of the Crime Victims Assistance Club and a longtime vocal critic of alleged police corruption. He was arrested for the same thing he campaigned to fight against.

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.

Now, this looks quite interesting, especially in light of the accusation mentioned earlier.

Why is the corruption only alleged? Are you trying to say there’s no corruption there?

That's because there's legal rules people need to follow when a case is already in court so the writer or the people talking about the case won't face legal battle especially when the case is yet to be concluded.

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.

Given his activities as an anti-crime crusader, it is quite possible that the investigation is political in nature and that the "allegedly" corrupt police are trying to "take out" their enemy.

On the other hand, no criminal has ever considered himself guilty.

I also believe there's chance of this happening which I hope I hope he go through fair trial.

$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.”

Isn't that a rather large sum for a resident of Thailand (even a criminal)?

Yes, it is but since it's something that involved gambling then sum amount is not huge.

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.

Wait, I don't get it: the figure was US$29.6 million, but now it's just US$1.2 million. Where did the rest of the money go? Is this that very instance of alleged corruption?

They are looking for evidence to be sure if he indeed have something to do with what he was asccussed so some huge funds transaction was found in his account history which was to be more than $1.2 million.

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.

Hmm, also claim that Thailand is a poor country.

A country maybe poor, it doesn't mean there's no billionaires living there.

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.

If this is true, it is the most ironic aspect of this story, for the "crusader against corrupt crime" turns out to have been corrupt himself, in a sense.

It's just what we see in the movie.

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.

I’m getting confused now: who’s the good bad cop in this story, and who’s the "dirty" anti-crime The Puncher?

In reality, cops have simpler ways to frame someone than untangling a web of Muay Thai betting mixed with the misappropriation of donations intended for a Crime Victims Assistance Club.

Yes, especially the bad ones that don't like what Atchariya is doing and those that see him as an obstacle to their business or chance of making money outside their regular cops duty.