(AsiaGameHub) – A former Thai Senator’s son has received a prison sentence exceeding 132 years for his participation in a money laundering and illegal gambling operation.
Thailand’s Criminal Court charged eight individuals, including Narote Piriyarangsan—the son of ex-Senator Sangsit Piriyarangsan—with organizing and facilitating online gambling.
As reported by local media The Nation, he did not show up for his court hearing following a temporary release granted in October 2025.
Piriyarangsan was sentenced to 132 years and six months behind bars in a ruling delivered in his absence. Nevertheless, Thai statutory limits cap the actual imprisonment at 20 years.
Extensive Network
Court records indicate that Piriyarangsan and his accomplices ran an illicit gambling syndicate from December 2023 through May 2024.
Throughout this period, financial transactions ranged from 1.7m baht (£38,450) to 54.7m baht (£1.24m). It is alleged that the group laundered the operation’s earnings by acquiring real estate, jewelry, and high-end vehicles.
While Piriyarangsan is the only defendant identified by name, the others are referred to numerically. Defendants one through five, along with defendant seven, were convicted of promoting or soliciting participation in illegal gambling.
For organizing illegal gambling, defendants one, four, and Piriyarangsan each received three-month prison terms. Conversely, defendants two, three, five, and seven were each ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 baht (£67.85).
Regarding the money laundering charges, the court handed defendant one a combined sentence of 15 years and 32 months, whereas Piriyarangsan received an aggregate sentence of 132 years and six months.
Additionally, the court imposed fines on corporate entities and other involved parties, amounting to 1.01m baht (£22,844) for defendant two, 2.01m baht (£45,462) for defendant three, 13.7m baht (£309,868) for defendant five, and 3.01m baht (£68,080) for defendant seven.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Piriyarangsan, whose father played a role in the unsuccessful casino legislation in Thailand.
A Persistent Challenge
Following the withdrawal of the previously mentioned casino bill last year—after Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from leadership in August 2025—nearly all types of gambling stay prohibited in Thailand.
Consequently, the nation has shifted its focus toward combating the illicit market, estimated to generate about 1.1trn (£24.8bn) baht each year.
Last October, authorities conducted raids across nine locations, resulting in the apprehension of ex-Muay Thai Champion Weerapong (Puenkon Tor Surat) for his involvement in an illegal gambling ring.
In total, eight individuals were arrested on suspicion of running a website known as ‘g2g69bet’, which amassed a turnover of 100m baht over three years.
This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content.
AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.