Thailand’s Immigration Police Arrest Gambling Syndicate Kingpin from South Korean

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Immigration Police on Tuesday arrested a South Korean man, who was allegedly the kingpin of an online football gambling gang from a house in Samut Prakan Province, just south of Bangkok, Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn said.

Suspect Kim Jaejin, who is wanted on an Interpol Red Warranty and and an arrest warrant in South Korea for running online football gambling operations, was nabbed in Thana City housing estate after the arrest of seven to eight gang members. Surachate said the gang reportedly dealt with cash flow of as much as Bt2.8 billion.

Kim arrived in Thailand through Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan on June 27, 2017. His visa was extended twice and had expired on Nov 13 last year.
He was detained at the request of South Korean authorities on an Iterpol Red Warrant, Kim reportedly admitted that he was a “wanted man”.

Police have charging him with overstaying his Visa and will deport him to face charges back home.

Meanwhile, a Russian man was arrested on the Island of Koh Samui in Surat Thani Province on Sunday for allegedly stealing a digital camera and unlawfully entering the kingdom.

Police reported that a Sony digital camera valued at Bt99,990 was stolen from an upmarket digital camera shop inside a shopping mall, staff noticed that Svami bore a strong resemblance to the suspect caught on a security camera stealing the device.

Kiirti Svami, 31, was arrested after her returned to the shop to possible steal another camera.

When police arrived at the shop, the Russian tried to walk away. Police asked him for his passport but he failed to produce it.

Svami admitted that he stole the camera from the shop but said he had already sold it to a Russian friend. He said he would tell his friend to return the camera.

He said he came to Thailand two moths ago.

The Russian also tested positive for drugs. He was charged with drug abuse, staying in the kingdom without visa and theft.