B44m seized in gambling case against MP Chonnaput

Prosecutors still reviewing evidence that DSI says will support indictment

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) has seized an additional 44 million baht in cash and digital assets linked to an online gambling network in which Klatham Party MP Chonnaput Naksua is accused of being a key figure.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Amlo said the action followed an expanded investigation into a group comprising Mr Chonnaput and his associates, who have been accused of organising gambling through electronic media.

The office had previously seized or frozen assets worth about 182 million baht from the group in three separate actions. Those cases are now under consideration by the Civil Court.

Further investigations found additional assets linked to the alleged offences, comprising cash and digital assets held in a trading account, with a combined value of about 44 million baht.

The temporary freeze is effective for no more than 90 days. Anyone whose assets have been frozen, or any other interested party, may submit a written request to the Amlo secretary-general to revoke the order, accompanied by supporting evidence.

The request must be submitted within 30 days of receiving written notification of the order, the statement said.

On Aug 24, the Department of Special Investigation recommended that prosecutors indict Mr Chonnaput on charges of organising illegal online gambling, money laundering, transnational crime and illegal assembly.

DSI officials delivered 12,000 pages of evidence to the Office of the Attorney-General outlining the charges against the 36-year-old MP for Songkhla.

Mr Chonnaput is also suspected of involvement in illegal gambling websites and related offences in other countries.

The attorney-general had earlier instructed the DSI to separate the case from another one against a large network of online gambling hosts in southern Thailand with suspected cash flows of about 1 billion baht.