TLDR Thai anti-crime campaigner Atchariya Ruangrattanapong was denied bail by Bangkok Criminal Court on October 5. Police accuse him of links to an illegal online Muay Thai betting network that allegedly handled about $29.6 million. He faces charges of public fraud, money laundering, illegal electronic betting, and Computer Crime Act violations. Police allege some donations meant for crime victims were diverted to gambling-related purposes. Atchariya denies all charges and claims police fabricated evidence against him.
Atchariya Ruangrattanapong, one of Thailand’s best-known anti-crime campaigners, has been jailed pending trial. Police accuse him of links to an illegal online boxing betting operation that allegedly handled about $29.6 million.
Bangkok Criminal Court denied him bail on Monday, October 5. The court approved a police request to hold the 59-year-old for 12 days while the investigation continues.
Atchariya is chairman of the Crime Victims Assistance Club. He has long been a vocal critic of alleged police corruption in Thailand.
He faces charges of public fraud, money laundering, illegal electronic betting on boxing, and violations of Thailand’s Computer Crime Act. He denies all of the allegations.
Police Say Over $29 Million Moved Through Betting Network
Cybercrime officers arrested Atchariya on Saturday near the Om Noi Boxing Stadium in Samut Sakhon province. The arrest warrant had been issued the day before.
Police say more than 1 billion baht, or about $29.6 million, flowed through an online Muay Thai betting operation. The network was known as “Muay Pak Yok Variety.”
Investigators say they found 212 transactions worth more than 40 million baht, or about $1.2 million. Police claim these transactions linked Atchariya to people tied to the betting operation.
Authorities also reviewed Atchariya’s personal bank account. Police say it recorded 1,196 incoming and outgoing transactions involving about 191 million baht, or $57 million.
The