Bangkok: Money trail of a gambling website has been exposed, linking to a female broker, with findings of 800 million baht laundered through three legal entities. Cybercriminals have been traced, revealing money trails leading into the account of a close female layperson, totaling no less than 31 million baht. Additionally, a former monk from Rai Khing Temple has been found with an outstanding arrest warrant.
According to Thai News Agency, the online gambling website 'LAGALAXY911' was previously targeted by the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) police on December 13, 2024. During that operation, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trirong Phiwpaen, Commander of the TCSD, along with other senior officers, requested arrest warrants for 24 individuals, including financial managers, programmers, and money mule account handlers. The operation involved searches at five locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Chonburi, and Nakhon Pathom, resulting in the arrest of 12 network members, including Ms. Aranyawan, a 28-year-old bank account owner and financial trail manager.
The investigation revealed that the gambling network had registered three companies to facilitate money laundering. These companies, located in a slum community, had directors who were possibly tricked into registration. Company A reported a turnover of 250 million baht, Company B 200 million baht, and Company C 362 million baht over different periods in 2024, totaling more than 800 million baht in five months.
Ms. Aranyawan was identified as a broker for online gambling websites and an account receiver. Her account was used for money transfers from a juristic person, totaling 48,790,225 baht, and involved in further transfers totaling 97,056,000 baht. Additional transfers to another of her accounts totaled 480,000 baht. Two other entities also funneled money into her account, amounting to 8,467,988.00 baht and 40,064,241.00 baht, respectively.
In the case of Mr. Yaem Inthrakrungkao, the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, and Ms. Aranyawan, the investigation uncovered their connection dating back to their studies at Wat Rai Khing. Ms. Aranyawan confessed to borrowing 40 million baht from him in 2021. Transactions traced by the investigation team showed a financial link between them, with Phra Maha Ekkaphon Phukhang, a monk at Wat Rai Khing, making deposits into Ms. Aranyawan's account totaling 31,400,000 baht.
The behavior of Phra Maha Ekaphon suggests attempts to conceal the source of assets related to the offense. The unusual transactions pointed to money from online gambling activities. Consequently, the police have gathered evidence for the Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Phra Maha Ekaphon Phukhang or Mr. Ekaphon, citing involvement in unauthorized electronic gambling and money laundering offenses. The former monk has since disrobed and evaded arrest since Ms. Aranya's arrest late last year.