Police Arrest Influencer for Posting Illegal Betting Links
Police arrested 23-year-old influencer Suthida, known as "Maprang," for promoting illegal betting websites to her 280,000 followers during the World Cup, receiving a four-month sentence after pleading guilty.
On August 13, senior police officials ordered a crackdown on online gambling promoters, particularly influencers posting hidden advertisements for illegal betting websites. Officers discovered that Suthida, known online as "Maprang," a 23-year-old influencer with over 280,000 combined followers across Facebook and Instagram, had been posting links encouraging football betting during the World Cup period. When summoned for questioning, she confessed to the charges, claiming financial desperation and an urgent need for money. She said she was hired through Facebook by an unnamed employer. The Don Muang District Court initially sentenced her to eight months imprisonment, but after she pleaded guilty, the sentence was reduced to four months and converted to four months detention. Police remain unconvinced by her testimony and have ordered investigators to expand the case to identify the betting operations and employers behind her. Authorities have also warned other online personalities to stop similar behavior, warning that cyber police will prosecute all offenders decisively.
