Cyber police are preparing to issue summonses to prominent MP candidates and police officers at the superintendent level to provide information and acknowledge charges after links were found to a councilor involved in an online gambling network who has already fled the country.
At 07:00 on 6 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphol Prembutr, Commander of the Cyber Crime Division, Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Tiprak, Chief of Staff assisting the Cyber Crime Division, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Komkrit Sukthai, Commander of Cyber Crime Division 3, ordered Pol. Col. Kamphee Promsonti, Deputy Commander of Cyber Crime Division 3, Pol. Col. Natthapon Rattanamongkolsak, Commander of Unit 3, Cyber Crime Division 4, Pol. Lt. Col. Anusorn Theeranutpong, Deputy Commander of Intelligence Unit, Cyber Crime Division 3, Pol. Lt. Col. Narong Wangsena, Officer of Intelligence Unit, Cyber Crime Division 3, and Pol. Lt. Col. Thanet Karakul, Officer of Unit 2, Cyber Crime Division 3, to lead operations to search two locations in Kalasin Province to investigate links to the online gambling network “huaysodplus.”
The first search team executed a warrant from the Kalasin Provincial Court No. K.33/2569 dated 5 Feb 2026 GMT+7 to search a house on Kud Yang Samakkhi Road, Kalasin Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kalasin Province, based on intelligence that it was the residence of Mr. Pathompong Phutao-ngern, 31, also known as Councilor Piao, a suspect wanted under an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court who was hiding there. The second team executed a warrant from the Kalasin Provincial Court No. K.32/2569 dated 5 Feb 2026 GMT+7 to search a house on the Song Ploy Bypass Road, Kalasin Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kalasin Province, which is the residence of Mr. Thanawut, 44, a kindergarten school director. No suspects were found at either location, but officers seized documents and evidence for examination.
This operation follows orders from superiors for the Cyber Crime Division to investigate the online gambling website “huaysodplus,” which has been reported on online media for offering various gambling services including Thai government lotteries, Laotian lottery, Hanoi lottery, various stock lotteries, and other types of online gambling. Investigations revealed this website is networked with the online lottery site “Banhuay98,” linked to Mr. Pathanun Chandorn, known as "Councilor Ney," a local politician in Kalasin Province.
Investigators gathered evidence and issued arrest warrants for five suspects: Mr. Thanawut, 44, kindergarten school director; Mr. Supachok, 64, a former police officer; Mr. Pathompong Phutao-ngern, 31, aka Councilor Piao; Mr. Phatthawat Thanaphakruangsuk, 30; and Ms. Pornnapa Saengthopho, 30. They are wanted under Criminal Court warrants No. 692-696/2569 dated 4 Feb 2026 GMT+7.
They face charges of "jointly organizing gambling or schemes to entice, assist, advertise, or directly or indirectly invite others to gamble (online lottery) without official permission, organizing electronic gambling, jointly committing money laundering, and conspiracy by agreement of two or more persons to commit money laundering offenses."
Key evidence leading to the arrest warrants against Councilor Piao and associates includes financial trails linking multiple accounts associated with Councilor Piao and others, with transaction volumes in the millions of baht. It was found that funds generated from the online lottery websites were laundered through purchases of real estate, land, luxury vehicles, restaurants, a boxing camp, and the creation of sacred objects for a prominent temple in the northeastern region.
Ms. Pornnapa and Mr. Supachok acted as the group procuring 'front' bank accounts, while Mr. Thanawut, Mr. Phatthawat, and Mr. Pathompong (Councilor Piao) were involved as beneficiaries of the gambling website. Authorities are currently in the process of issuing summonses. Mr. Plakorn Pimphanit or MP Ball A prominent politician and a police superintendent from a police station in Maha Sarakham Province are scheduled to provide information and acknowledge charges next week after financial links were found connecting them as beneficiaries within the said network.
Reporters checked the Facebook page " Plakorn Pimphanit - Ball " and found a recent post inviting residents of Kalasin's second district to attend a speech today at 16:00 at the Khong Chai Phatthana Municipal Stadium, Khong Chai District, Kalasin Province.
Regarding the background of Councilor Piao, Mr. Pathompong Phutao-ngern, Councilor of Yang Talat District, Zone 4, he is accused of being part of the '888' youth entrepreneur group along with Mr. Pathanun Chandorn, known as Councilor Ney. Councilor Piao has served as councilor for Yang Talat District, Zone 4 since 2015. Previously, he was an artisan creating sacred objects for prominent monks in northeastern provinces, especially Maha Sarakham and Kalasin. Cyber police investigations uncovered that the network operated many gambling websites with financial turnover reaching 1.2 billion baht.
Additionally, it was discovered that both Councilor Piao and Councilor Ney fled before the arrest warrants were issued, reportedly leaving from Nong Khai Province on 20 Jan 2026 GMT+7. They are currently being pursued, with cyber police coordinating with Interpol to issue red notices.