16-5-2024 (BANGKOK) Thai authorities have arrested a 23-year-old internet idol, known as “Noon OnlyFans,” for allegedly persuading her online followers to engage in illegal gambling activities. The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) apprehended the woman, whose real name is Lalada, at a condominium in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district on Wednesday.
According to Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thumsuthee, the MPB’s investigation chief, Lalada was charged with organizing gambling activities and luring people into gambling through advertising and persuasion. Her surname was withheld by authorities.
The arrest followed a police investigation that revealed Lalada had been posting photos of herself alongside links to gambling websites on her Facebook page. Additionally, she had been sharing messages to entice people to apply for membership to the online gambling website “omega9.”
After pinpointing her location, the arresting team obtained a search warrant from the Criminal Court on Wednesday. During the search, officers seized and examined Lalada’s iPhone, uncovering numerous messages on her Facebook and Instagram accounts that encouraged people to gamble online.
During questioning, Lalada admitted to owning the accounts and confessed to luring people into online gambling since 2018. She stated that two gambling websites had hired her to advertise for them, paying her 20,000 baht (approximately S$744) for posting 30 photos with gambling advertisements per website.
The online influencer’s arrest has shed light on the growing issue of social media personalities being recruited by illegal gambling operations to promote their services and attract new customers. Authorities are increasingly cracking down on such activities, which can have detrimental consequences for individuals and society.
Gambling remains a contentious issue in Thailand, with a complex legal framework that prohibits most forms of gambling while allowing certain exceptions, such as betting on horse races and the government-run lottery. However, the rise of online gambling platforms has posed new challenges for law enforcement agencies, as these operations often operate from outside the country’s borders, exploiting legal loopholes and the anonymity of the internet.
