Cyber police raided a network falsely claiming "Luang Pu Sila" blessed lottery scratch cards, uncovering over 30 million baht in transactions and arresting three suspects including beneficiaries and page administrators.
On 17 Oct 2016 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Gen. Thinkorn Rangmat, Commander of the Cyber Crime Division, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Arut Saengchan and Pol. Maj. Gen. Songklod Krikkritaya, ordered Pol. Col. Arunpan Wanichchanan, Pol. Lt. Col. Teerasak Narasri, and Pol. Lt. Suphanat Ketkaew to lead a crackdown on a group illegally using images of a famous Northeastern monk to create and sell lottery scratch cards online, with transactions exceeding 30 million baht, arresting three suspects including beneficiaries and admins.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thinkorn Rangmat stated the operation began after the investigation unit received numerous complaints about a Facebook account named “Luang Pu Sila 99 V.3 Scratch Cards,” which used images of Phra Thep Watchara Thammasopon (Luang Pu Sila Sirichanto) from Wat Phra That Muen Hin in Kalasin, a renowned Northeastern monk. The group illegally sold auspicious scratch cards to reveal numbers for lottery betting such as underground and foreign lotteries, priced at 99 baht each, or packages of two cards for 159 baht and four cards for 199 baht. They falsely advertised that Luang Pu Sila had blessed these cards, damaging his reputation.
The investigation uncovered multiple individuals involved, with Mr. Watanyu Somsri, 36, from Phayao province, identified as the main culprit and beneficiary. He used a corporate bank account registered under a company he directs to receive customer payments. It was found that the illegal sale of these auspicious cards had continued for over two years, with 363,203 cards sold and over 30 million baht flowing through the accounts. Evidence was gathered leading to court-approved arrest and search warrants for two locations in Bangkok.
The first search warrant, Criminal Court No. 605/2016 dated 16 October 2016 GMT+7, authorized a search of a house in the Lat Phrao Wang Hin 77 area, Lat Phrao district, Bangkok. The second warrant, Criminal Court No. 606/2016 dated the same day, authorized a search of a commercial building in the same area.
During the searches, police arrested Ms. Wilawan Kaewtep, 27, from Phayao, and Ms. Panthong Meunna, 20, from Bangkok, who served as page admins managing orders and delivery of the auspicious cards to customers. Authorities seized five computers, three mobile phones, and other equipment totaling 21 items.
Additionally, the investigation team apprehended Mr. Watanyu Somsri under a Kalasin Provincial Court arrest warrant No. 500/2016 dated 12 October 2016 GMT+7 in Phayao province. All suspects confessed during preliminary interrogations.
They face charges of conspiracy or aiding in public fraud as a regular business, entering false information into computer systems likely to cause harm to others, conspiracy involving two or more persons to commit money laundering, and defamation through advertising. The suspects and seized evidence were handed over to investigators at Division 1, Cyber Crime Division 3 for legal proceedings.