Police said this morning that they have enough evidence to prosecute a key suspect over his role in running an online gambling ring.
Police spokesperson Col. Krissana Pattanacharoen said Wednesday morning that after five hours of questioning Chaiwat Kajornboonthavorn, aka Benz Daemon, they have sufficient proof linking him to the gambling operation to seek a court warrant to continue holding him.
Chaiwat, 37, was detained Tuesday after returning from Hong Kong and is being held at the Thung Song Hong Police Station in northwest metro Bangkok. He faces charges of gambling and money laundering related to an ongoing crackdown against the so-called Macau888 gambling operation.
The police said they would also ask the Criminal Court to approve warrants for 55 other suspects.
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Chaiwat was identified as a key suspect by his ex-girlfriend, the actress Arisara “Due” Thongborisut. Her revelations have led to multiple arrests and raids in various locations linked to gambling. She announced last week that she was motivated to bring Chaiwat down because he had been emotionally and physically abusive. She claimed he was one of four brothers running the crime syndicate.
He has been denied bail, and no family members have come to contact him, police said.
Chaiwat has previously denied any involvement and vowed to fight the case.
Last week, coordinated raids of multiple suspected gambling dens linked to the operation led police to seize assets including Chaiwat’s Lamborghini Mad Bull Liberty Walk Aventador, estimated to be worth upward of THB40 million (US$1.2 million).
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