Amlo seizes B68m from gambling ring

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) seized additional assets valued at approximately 68 million baht, owned by individuals associated with the busted high-profile online gambling ring operated by Suchanun Sucharitchinsri, also known as the Minnie network.

Following the latest court-ordered confiscation of assets linked to the Minnie online gambling ring, Amlo is expanding its investigation into the network’s money trail.

The agency was looking for a link between the gang and embattled deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn, said Amlo secretary-general Thepsu Bowornchotedara on Wednesday.

Among the recently confiscated assets was a 13-million-baht house in Bang Khen district of Bangkok, which was registered in someone else’s name even though Ms Suchanun paid the down payment for it, said Mr Thepsu.

Other assets seized were money deposited in bank accounts held by acquaintances of Ms Suchanun, he said.

So far, assets worth more than 109 million baht have been confiscated from this online gambling network.

Aside from the online gambling gang, Pol Gen Surachate is also suspected of being linked to BNK Master, another major online gambling network busted earlier that is being investigated for money laundering by Tao Poon police, said Mr Thepsu.

When a police investigation report is received from Tao Poon police station, Amlo will begin tracing the gang’s money trail to find who else has been involved with it, he said.

Pol Gen Surachate has been suspended from the police force over his alleged involvement in the money laundering case linked to BNK Master.

In another development, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he was not aware of Pol Gen Surachate’s withdrawal of a petition submitted against the premier recently to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Pol Gen Surachate was seeking a probe against Mr Srettha for alleged malfeasance over the order to suspend him from duty.

Mr Srettha was responding to the revelation by NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol about Pol Gen Surachate reversing his decision.

Pol Gen Surachate, meanwhile, said he dropped the petition for fear it might duplicate similar malfeasance petitions lodged against the premier in separate cases by other people.