"MP Ball" voluntarily met with cyber police ahead of the scheduled hearing on March 18 regarding alleged gambling involvement, secured bail, and invoked parliamentary immunity for protection. Meanwhile, "Provincial Councillors Piew and Ney" and five others surrendered en masse after fleeing to Laos, denying all charges.
Following an investigative unit's efforts to expand the probe into an online gambling network linked to prominent politicians in the Northeast, authorities have been investigating online gambling websites."huaysodplus"and"Banhuay98"They gathered evidence and issued arrest warrants for those involved, including local politicians in Kalasin Province, such as Mr. Pathanun Jandon, also known as"Provincial Councillor Ney"aged 29, and Mr. Pathompong Phutao-ngern, aged 31, or"Provincial Councillor Piew"along with three others.
Additionally, summons were issued for Mr. Plakorn Pimphanit, known as"MP Ball"a well-known politician in Kalasin, and a police superintendent from a station in Maha Sarakham Province to provide information and hear charges of"jointly organizing or enticing, helping advertise, or directly or indirectly inviting others to participate in gambling authorized by officials, organizing electronic media gambling, jointly committing money laundering, and conspiring with two or more persons to commit money laundering offenses."This followed findings of financial links to the network, indicating they were beneficiaries.
The latest update on 20 Mar 2026 GMT+7, reporters at the Technology Crime Suppression Division 3 (TCSD 3) headquarters at Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, Laksi, Bangkok, reported a media presence awaiting statements from Mr. Plakorn Pimphanit, or"MP Ball,"who had been scheduled to provide testimony and hear charges after being summoned by TCSD 3 investigators. However, as time passed, the politician did not appear.
When reporters inquired, sources within TCSD revealed that although Mr. Plakorn was scheduled to meet investigators that day,he had already voluntarilymet with investigators at TCSD 3 on 18 Mar,giving a statement,denyingall allegations and invoking parliamentary immunity to secure bail. Investigators questioned him before releasing him.Additionally, reports indicate that Mr. Pathanun Jandon, or
"Provincial Councillor Ney,"and his wife, who face warrants No. 436-437/2569 from the Criminal Court for jointly organizing gambling or enticing, helping advertise, or inviting others directly or indirectly to participate in unauthorized electronic media gambling, conspiracy, and money laundering, surrendered to TCSD 3 investigators.Similarly, Mr. Pathompong Phutao-ngern, or"Provincial Councillor Piew,"Mr. Thanawut Saengkaenphet, director of a kindergarten in Kalasin, and Mr. Patthawat Thanaphakruangsuk, who face warrants No. 692, 694, and 695 from the Criminal Court for the same offenses, also surrendered. All were implicated as beneficiaries of the"huaysodplus"gambling network and have all surrendered to TCSD 3 investigators.
After Provincial Councillors Ney and Piew fled to Laos on 20 January, police obtained arrest warrants. All five deny the charges.Police Colonel Kampee Promsonthee, deputy commander of TCSD 3, stated that investigators will expedite summarizing the case file to forward to the public prosecutor within the deadline and will continue thoroughly tracing the gambling network's assets. He affirmed that investigations are based on evidence, not political persecution, and additional warrants will be issued if others are found involved.