TLDR
- A Bangkok court ordered activist Atchariya Ruangrattanapong held for 12 days and denied him bail.
- Police link him to an online Muay Thai betting ring that handled over THB1 billion ($30 million).
- Investigators found 212 transactions worth more than THB40 million ($1.2 million) tied to him or related accounts.
- He faces charges of public fraud, money laundering, illegal electronic betting and computer crime violations.
- Atchariya denies the charges and says police fabricated evidence to target him.
A Thai court has ordered activist Atchariya Ruangrattanapong to remain in custody. Police are investigating his alleged links to an illegal online boxing betting ring.
The Criminal Court in Bangkok approved a 12-day detention period on October 5. The court also refused his request for bail.
Cybercrime investigators told the court he could tamper with evidence or influence witnesses if released. They said the investigation is still ongoing.
Arrest and Charges
Atchariya, 59, was arrested on October 3 near the Siam Om Noi boxing stadium in Samut Sakhon. Officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division then questioned him for several hours under a court warrant.
He faces charges of public fraud, money laundering and illegal electronic betting. He is also accused of breaking Thailand’s computer crime laws.
Police say the online Muay Thai betting ring handled more than THB1 billion, or about $30 million.
Investigators said they found 212 transactions worth more than THB40 million ($1.2 million). They believe these transactions connect Atchariya, or accounts linked to him, to people involved in the betting operation.
Bank Records Under Review
Police also examined Atchariya’s personal bank account. They said it recorded 1,196 transactions worth about THB191 million ($5.7 million) between January 2024 and April 2025.
Investigators also reviewed the account of the Crime Victims Assistance Club, which Atchariya leads. From 2013 to April 2026, that account processed 5,140 transactions totaling about THB168 million ($5 million).
Police are checking whether some donations meant to help crime victims were moved into gambling-related activities.
Atchariya disputes how police have read the financial records. He said the transactions have legitimate explanations and denied gaining hundreds of millions of baht through deception.
He has also challenged claims about his social media use. He told investigators that material tied to a Facebook account could not be recent because he stopped using Facebook in 2022. He said he now runs a YouTube channel.
The activist claims the case relies on evidence recycled from an earlier investigation. He has accused police of planting evidence to target him for his long-running criticism of law enforcement.
Atchariya has made public claims about illegal gambling and police corruption before. In 2023, he went to Royal Thai Police headquarters and alleged that senior officers were involved in gambling websites.
At that time, he said more than 100 officers took part in such operations. Those claims were never court findings.
Police say they need more time to question witnesses and analyze forensic material. They also plan to review financial records and check Atchariya’s background.
His detention has been extended until October 16 while the investigation continues.
