Thailand: PM denies links to illegal gambling

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was accused by the opposition of recieving benefits from illegal gambling dens.

Thailand.- The Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has denied allegations that he has links with illegal gambling dens in the country.

The allegations were made by the leader of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, Sompong Amornvivat, in a parliamentary debate on Tuesday.

The opposition leader claimed that Thailand’s top official directly received benefits from illegal gambling and said that his party would expose irregularities in the country’s administration.

But Prime Minister Chan-o-cha said: “To those who accused me of receiving benefits, I insist that I never received a single baht. I don’t want any involvement with dirty money. I will receive only my lawful benefits.”

The Thai government has launched three new sub-committees that will aim to tackle the country’s illegal gambling dens, which have been signalled as a major source of Covid-19 infections.

Earlier this month, a special panel linked ten police officers and provincial government administrative officials to two gambling dens in the coastal city of Rayong.

The prime minister added: “I believe past and present governments try to do their best. But nowadays, gambling and related offences are becoming more complicated.”