A police major general from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) is one of nine suspects who have been arrested on suspicion of running three online gambling websites, according to deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

Pol Gen Surachate said yesterday the police major general was a classmate of his at the Royal Police Cadet Academy and owned the gambling websites identified as RRD789, BLUE789 and SEXY789.

He said his former classmate denied the accusations.

The nine suspects were charged with illegally hosting electronic gambling and laundering money.

The arrests followed a complaint from Chertkiat Saksi, 24, who said he worked as a programmer and administrator of the gambling websites and was abducted from his apartment in the Chok Chai area of Bangkok and taken to a coffee shop in Chon Buri province on Jan 12. The operation of the online gambling sites was based in Chon Buri.

Mr Chertkiat told police that seven suspects accused him of stealing money from the gambling websites as revenue had declined. He was assaulted and forced to pay 100,000 baht for his freedom. He also told police the owner of the online gambling sites was Pol Maj Gen Eakkapop Intawiwat, 54, a commander of the NSB.

Pol Gen Surachate yesterday announced that all seven suspects had been arrested along with another police officer who gave Mr Chertkiat’s address to them.

Pol Gen Surachate said investigators would examine the source of the assets of the nine suspects including the senior police officer, worth about 200 million baht in total.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).