Online Gambling Magnate Arrested in Bangkok

Indian online gambling tycoon, Karan Singh Thakral, has been arrested in Bangkok Thailand.  The man was taken into custody on Wednesday, authorities announced.

Pol Maj-Gen Pongpat said Mr Thakral, 39, was part of the online gambling network focusing mostly on football betting.  The operation is estimated to have took in a turnover of 3.2 billion of baht, equivalent to around US$2.5 billion.

Pol Maj-Gen Pongpat said Mr Thakral had pleaded not guilty to the charge but police had enough evidence from previous arrests to prosecute him.

Police have seized 865 bank accounts belonging to 432 people in the gambling network. They said 361 bank accounts belonging to 231 people, containing a total of 302 million baht, had been frozen.

The gambling network is allegedly headed by two Malaysians, Chin Pengwong and Martin Ialunglim, who are the subject of Thai arrest warrants.

----