Thailand’s ex-senator’s son implicated in iGaming scandal

Garance Limouzy July 18, 2024

Share it :

Thailand’s ex-senator’s son implicated in iGaming scandal

According to the Bangkok Post, Narote Piriyarangsan, the son of a former senator, “has been arrested on charges of owning an online gambling network and its payment system”.

The police have arrested the 33-year-old son of former Thai senator Sangsit Piriyarangsan, who is ironically known for his expertise in gambling. Sangsit Piriyarangsan is an economist specialising in corruption and gaming industry, having published several articles and books on the subject. His expertise led to his appointment as a senator tasked with working on the government’s new gambling legislation. Former Senator Sangsit had been keen to improve the government’s casino plan by ensuring stronger transparency and proposing preventive measures, such as a 2,000 baht entrance fee to prevent low-income earners from betting.

Coordinated police efforts

Police have seized 400 million baht worth of assets, including computers, 14 mobile phones, 53 ATM cards, and four luxury cars: a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, a Lexus, and a Subaru. The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), through its commander Pol Maj Gen Athip Pongsiwapai, declared that the police had conducted three operations in different locations across Bangkok to arrest Narote Piriyarangsan and shut down the operations. Narote Piriyarangsan’s accomplice, Narayut Narakaew, 39, was also arrested.

Money laundering and illegal iGaming website

The criminal court has issued arrest warrants for the two men on charges of money laundering and operating an illegal iGaming business. Their illegal operations had been generating over 5 billion baht monthly and had been active for four years. The investigation started when suspicion arose around their newly implemented payment system, which had only been running for eight months.

14 new arrest warrants were issued for additional suspects involved in the illegal iGaming business.