FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Arrested ‘gambling broker’ linked to Chulalongkorn investment scam

Arrested ‘gambling broker’ linked to Chulalongkorn investment scam

Police have arrested a woman in Chiang Mai province who allegedly received Bt40 million to Bt60 million in ill-gotten gains from 2010 until last February from Dr Sawat Saengbangpla, the fugitive former chairman of the Chulalongkorn University Savings Cooperative.

The woman allegedly helped Sawat bet in online gambling. 
Sawat is wanted for public fraud after allegedly luring people to participate in a lottery investment scam causing damages worth more than Bt1 billion.
Methawat Khonman, who was previously named Patchakorn, was wanted under a court-issued warrant in the case. She reportedly confessed that she had received the money a few times per month, each time at up to Bt200,000, from Sawat to bet on online baccarat in her role as his gambling broker, said Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Thitirat Nonghanpitak. 
Methawat said she met Sawat after being introduced by her boyfriend, who knew a woman in her 20s nicknamed “Jiew” who was close to Sawat. 
She said she earned 0.8-per-cent commissions on the bets but insisted she was not personally close to Sawat and had never received other assets from him. She said she had only met him four times in Chiang Mai and did not know about his job.
Methawat was initially charged with receiving ill-gotten money to conceal a crime under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Police are gathering evidence to apply for more arrest warrants for other individuals who reportedly received ill-gotten wealth from Sawat. 
Thitirat said he was confident police would arrest Sawat soon because they believed he was still in Thailand. 
An investigation has tracked down Bt60 million so far and police would continue to work with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to recover the stolen assets, he added.

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