PHUKET: Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Director General Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol led a team of officers to Phuket yesterday (Nov 22) to seize two luxury villas together worth an estimated B2 billion from the operators of an online gambling network that had a daily turnover of some B72 billion.
The luxury villas ‒ in Moo 1 Rawai, on the road from Nai Harn Beach to Ao Sane and Laem Krathing ‒ had prime sea views over Nai Harn Bay. One of the villas was called ‘Thousand Hills Phuket’. One of the properties covered approximately 1 rai 2 ngan, and the second covered an area of 2 rai 1 ngan.
Officers found only housekeepers and ground staff at the villas, but slapped notices on the front of the homes and seized the properties.
Maj Suriya explained that the villas were owned by a syndicate that operated the UFA online gambling network, specifically a man he named only as “Mr Phakphum”, who worked as a revenue manager for the UFA gambling network.
DSI officers arrested Phakphum, who also goes by the name ‘Didi’, at Suvarnabhumi airport on Nov 4.
Phakphum initially denied his role in the illegal gambling network, but eventually surrendered after being presented with evidence of financial trails and electronic evidence, Maj Suriya said.
Phakphum was charged with organising online gambling and offences under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
“Only 29 years old, Phakphum lived a simple life, without a luxury car or much property, but he travelled abroad regularly,” Maj Suriya said.
“Evidence connected him to more than 80 mule accounts that he managed, with 50 mule accounts belonging to migrant workers at small factories who opened and sold accounts for gambling websites.
“Another 30 accounts were found in the names of Thai people. Each account had billions in turnover,” he added.
The mule accounts together funnelled 3% of the income from all 83 gambling sites that Phakphum managed, Maj Suriya explained.
The DSI was continuing their hunt for the founder of the UFA network, who he named only as “Mr Phuchit”.
Officers were still pursuing Mr Phuchit’s sister, “Ms Phonpansa”, along with 13 associates in total wanted for their role in operating the illegal gambling network.
“They were in the habit of buying real estate. These two properties are the starting point for us, but we are still giving people who own various assets in name only the opportunity to present themselves and provide information to the investigating officers,” Maj Suriya said.
“Otherwise you yourself will be guilty of money laundering,” Maj Suriya warned.
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