Million-baht-a-month lottery ring busted, three arrested

PHANG NGA: Police yesterday arrested two women and a man for allegedly running an underground lottery operation in Phuket’s neighboring province Phang Nga.

The arrests were made at a staff housing unit at Banglam ‘Health Promoting Hospital’ in Takuathung District.

The three suspects are Kamol Tongdeeying, 48, a palm oil farmer; Cholthida Makkhum, 35, an accountant;; and Pornthip Jankham, 31, also an accountant.

“We seized 209 lottery papers, a fax machine, a shotgun, 10 title deeds (chanotes), a voice recorder, bank books and 40,000 baht in cash,” said Col Teerasak Thammasatit of Takuathung Police.

Related news

Police examined the bank book and estimated the earnings from ticket sales at about a million baht a month.

All three suspects confessed when questioned and were charged with running an illegal lottery operation. They were taken to Takuathung Police Station.

Illegal lotteries and gambling dens are rife in Thailand and normally rely on police protection for their existence. Underground lotteries in Phang Nga alone have been reported in Takuapa, Kuraburi, Taimuang and Takuathung.

Police say they are ‘investigating further’ to unravel the networks.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

Phuket News

Thaiger Talk

Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.

Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.

Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Legacy Phuket Gazette

Archiving articles from the Phuket Gazette circa 1998 - 2017. View the Phuket Gazette online archive and Digital Gazette PDF Prints.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Check Also
Close