Crime

Woman Kills 14 People With Cyanide to Fuel Gambling Addiction

Gambling Addiction Helped Fuel Serial Killer to Poison 14 People With Cyanide

Police in Thailand have stated that a gambling addiction helped fuel Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn to murder 14 people with cyanide, according to officers who investigated the suspect’s money trail.

According to Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, an investigation of the 78 million baht ($2.2 Million) that moved through the suspect’s bank accounts, dubbed “Aem Cyanide” by netizens on social media, revealed she had a gambling habit.

Some of the money was discovered to have been transferred to proxy accounts set up to collect financial transfers from gamblers, according to Pol Gen Surachate, who noted that her alleged victims had sent huge sums of money to Ms Sararat’s account previous to their deaths.

An inquiry into her financial activities found that Ms Sararat lost about one million baht to gambling on one particular day, which could explain why the suspect frequently appeared to be in desperate need of money to her relatives and acquaintances.

When asked where the cyanide used to poison the victims came from, Pol Gen Surachate claimed investigators had narrowed the list of likely sources down to roughly ten.

cyanide killer thailand

According to Pol Gen Surachate, the police have ruled out the likelihood that Ms Sararat’s late partner, Sutthisak “Dae” Phoonkhwan, gave her with the cyanide.

He stated that the police are closing in on one of Ms Sararat’s assistants, whom investigators believe was involved in the deaths.

The investigation of over 400 materials seized from various crime scenes linked to Ms Sararat is being carried out by the police’s forensic squad with the support of Weerachai Phutdhawong, an assistant professor of chemistry at Kasetsart University, according to the deputy national police chief.

According to Pol Gen Surachate, the findings would be included in the police’s final report.

Ms Sararat was detained four months pregnant on April 25. Her arrest was the result of a complaint filed by the mother and elder sister of one of the 14 victims, Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong, 32, of Kanchanaburi.

Siriporn fell and died on the banks of the Mae Klong River in Ratchaburi’s Ban Pong area, where she had just released fish for merit-making with Ms Sararat on April 14.

gambling addiction thailand

Gambling Addiction in Thailand

Gambling addiction is a significant issue in many countries, including Thailand. While I can provide some general information about gambling addiction, please note that my knowledge cutoff is in September 2021, so there might have been recent developments that I’m not aware of.

In Thailand, gambling is generally illegal with few exceptions. The main legal form of gambling in the country is the national lottery, which is government-regulated and operates twice a month. However, underground gambling activities still exist, including illegal casinos and sports betting.

Gambling addiction can have severe consequences for individuals and their families. It is considered a behavioral addiction, characterized by an inability to control or stop gambling despite negative consequences. Some common signs of gambling addiction include:

1. Preoccupation with gambling: Constantly thinking about gambling, planning the next bet, or reliving past gambling experiences.
2. Increasing bets and risks: Needing to bet larger amounts of money or taking greater risks to experience the same level of excitement or “high.”
3. Failed attempts to quit or cut back: Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control or stop gambling.
4. Neglecting responsibilities: Prioritizing gambling over work, studies, relationships, or other important obligations.
5. Financial problems: Experiencing significant financial difficulties as a result of gambling losses or borrowing money to fund gambling habits.
6. Emotional distress: Feeling anxious, irritable, or restless when attempting to cut back on or stop gambling.
7. Chasing losses: Trying to recover previous gambling losses by continuing to gamble, often leading to even more significant financial losses.

Recognizing the signs of gambling addiction is crucial, as early intervention can increase the chances of recovery. In Thailand, there are organizations and support services available to help individuals struggling with gambling addiction. One prominent organization is the Department of Mental Health’s Mental Health Hotline (1323), which offers counseling and guidance for various mental health issues, including gambling addiction.

Additionally, some private organizations and treatment centers specialize in gambling addiction and provide counseling, therapy, and support groups. These organizations may be able to offer specific information and resources tailored to the local context.

If you or someone you know is dealing with gambling addiction, it’s essential to seek professional help and support. A qualified mental health professional or addiction counselor can provide guidance, develop a treatment plan, and recommend appropriate interventions to address the addiction effectively.

Remember, my information is based on the state of affairs up until September 2021, and it’s advisable to consult updated sources or local authorities for the most recent information on gambling addiction and available support in Thailand.

Crime

Police Officer Being Ordained at Temple Arrested for Running Scam Call Center

Police in Northern Thailand have arrested a fellow officer as he was being ordained at a temple in Ngao district of neighbouring Lampang province.

Pol Lt Col Bandit Khonkan chief inspector from the Hang Dong police station was disrobed and taken to the Chang Puak station in Chiang Mai. He was arrested on charges of running a call centre scam gang in Chiang Mai Province.

According to Thai Media Chiang Mai Provincial Police Region 5 obtained an arrest warrant for Pol Lt Col Bandit on Friday from the Chiang Mai Provincial Court for procuring illegal telecom equipment, setting up a station and using public airwaves to run a telecommunications business without permission.

Pol Lt Col Bandit reportedly told investigators that he was not the ringleader and was only a member of the gang with Chinese partners.

His arrest followed the apprehension of his 26-year-old daughter, Miss Wanuchapond, 26, and three others during raids at three housing projects in Chiang Mai on Friday, Pol Maj Gen Weerachon Boontawee, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 5 told Thai media.

During the raids police police discovered around 12 GSM gateways, or SIM boxes, which are devices used for converting cellular networks into mobile phone numbers used domestically.

The chief inspectors daughter Miss Wanuchapond told the arresting officers that she was paid 8,000 baht a month at each of the three locations for renting thr rooms and monitoring devices.

She claimed she had no idea what the devices were and accepted the job because the pay was attractive.

Police investigators working with telecom regulators used a special tracking device to monitor the gang’s communications and learned that its base was in Myanmar opposite Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.

The call center gang used the GSM gateways to make calls over the internet to scam people in Thailand out of million of baht.

The GSM gateways transmitting signals via SIM boxes to convert them into domestic phone numbers, duping victims into thinking they were being called from Thai government agencies.

Pol Maj Gen Weerachon said that each SIM box held 32 SIM cards, with a capacity of up to 300,000 calls a month. The seized devices had made fraudulent calls over 3.6 million times.

He said the their investigation is ongoing and they are working to track down the remaining conspirators, including Chinese and other Thai suspects.

Authorities are still deciding whether Pol Lt Col Bandit will be dismissed from the force, he said, adding that so far, no other officers are known to have been involved.

Police in Chiang Rai Launch Crackdown on Cyber Criminals in Golden Triangle

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.

On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.

His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.

Related Police News:

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Crime

Thai Immigration Police Arrest Colombian Tourists Over Home Invasions

Immigration police officers have arrested four Colombian nationals in connection with a series of home burglaries at luxury housing complexes in the Bangkok metropolitan area and Chiang Buri Province.

Pol Maj Gen Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told a press briefing that three of the suspects were apprehended in Nonthaburi Province and the fourth in South Pattaya, Chon Buri Province.

According to the Bangkok Post, the Colombians were charged with stealing conspiracy and seized around 3 million baht (US$82,500.00).

According to Pol Maj Gen Panthana, the criminals rode motorcycles through housing estates, scoping out the properties and waiting for the owners to depart before committing their crimes.

He stated that all four of the accused denied any involvement in the home break-ins, but the arresting squad discovered evidence that implicated them.

Police called to home invasion

Meanwhile, police were dispatched to a luxury housing development in Tambon Nong Prue, Chonburi Province, after a Chinese man was attacked during a house invasion.

When they arrived, they discovered the house owner, Mr. Qian Peng Yi, visibly scared and with marks from being tied up with a cable. He informed police that three Chinese males broke into his home at 9 p.m., one of whom brandished a gun at him and directed him to his bedroom.

They bound his hands and feet, gagged him with fabric, taped his head, and forced him into the bed. The intruders then attempted to compel him into transferring 10 million baht in cryptocurrencies to them, endangering the life of his 33-year-old cousin who was in a second-floor bedroom.

While they scoured the house in search of riches, Mr. Peng Yi managed to flee and hide; he subsequently observed them leave with his cousin. Officials investigated the property and analyzed security camera footage from the incident and surrounding areas.

Around 9 p.m., a 30-year-old van driver came at the Bang Lamung police station after being contacted by an agency to carry Chinese customers from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The driver informed authorities that he was supposed to pick them up at a motel about a kilometer from the Chinese businessman’s home. He then drove them to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, arriving at 1 a.m. and receiving 1,800 baht.

The driver took a snapshot of the group smoking at the airport gate and identified one of them as the victim’s cousin. Police suspected coordination between her and the three suspects in her cousin’s heist, who all departed Thailand on the same aircraft.

Other Bangkok News:

Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Crime

Son of Thailand’s Leading Legal Scholar on Corruption Arrested for Running Online Gambling Network

The son of a former senator and leading economist and expert on corruption and gambling in Thailand has been arrested for on charges of running an online gambling network and its payment system.

Police from Thailand’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) have confiscated assets worth more than (US$ 11.1 million) 400 million baht.

Narote Piriyarangsan, 33, was arrested following crackdowns in three sites around the city, according to Pol Maj Gen Athip Pongsiwapai, commander of the police Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD).

Mr Narote’s father, Sangsit Piriyarangsan, is an economist who has written articles and books about corruption and gambling. He was one of the appointed senators that were investigating the government’s intention to legalize casino gaming before their terms expired.

Police also detained 39-year-old Narayut Narakaew, the owner of the gambling website 69pgslot.com. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the couple for operating an internet gambling service and money laundering.

According to the Bangkok Post, police seized two desktop computers, one laptop computer, 14 mobile phones, 21 bank passbooks, 53 ATM cards, and four high-end cars — a Ferrari 926 GTS, an Aston Martin, a Lexus, and a Subaru — totaling more than 400 million baht.

Police launched the inquiry after discovering the online gambling site, which accepted funds via an automatic deposit-withdrawal system through bank accounts and deposits in the AskMePay system. Players scanned the VPay QR code as well as the QR codes for Heng Online 888 or Heng Pay Company.

Police also discovered that payments received via QR code scans were transferred to the account of Heng Pay Co and then to the gambling website’s mule accounts using AskMePay, which did not use banks’ face recognition scanning. An inquiry indicated a monthly turnover of approximately 5 billion baht.

According to investigators, the website has been up and running for around four years, with the payment mechanism in use for roughly eight months.

According to Pol Maj Gen Athip, Mr Narote owns the gaming website’s payment systems and is the director of Heng Pay Co. After gathering evidence, authorities requested arrest warrants for 14 people.

Thailand does not allow almost any kind of gaming. Even though the law doesn’t say anything specific about online gaming, it is still considered gambling. The country has pretty strict rules about gambling. Thai punters can bet on the national lottery and horse races, but they can’t bet on any other types of games.

But it’s not a secret that there is a huge illegal gaming business in Thailand, even though it’s illegal.

The illegal casinos, online betting shops, underground lotteries, and pop-up bookies that take bets on everything from cockfights to Muay Thai make a shadow economy that is worth billions of dollars every year.