Crusader for crime victims faces money-laundering charges

Police say lawyer Atchariya Ruengrattanapong used donated money to bet on boxing

Cybercrime police arrested crime victims’ rights activist Atchariya Ruengrattanapong outside a boxing stadium in Samut Sakhon on Saturday on charges including money laundering.

Investigators said they had received complaints that the high-profile lawyer used money donated by the public to his organisation to bet on Muay Thai fights.

Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) apprehended Mr Atchariya in front of the Siam Om Noi boxing stadium in Krathum Baen district at noon on Saturday, said Pol Lt Gen Thinnakorn Rangmat, the CCIB commissioner.

Mr Atchariya was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on charges of fraud, inputting false computer data, money laundering and illegal gambling, said Pol Maj Gen Prasong Chalermphan, commander of CCIB Division 1.

According to the arresting team, Mr Atchariya portrayed himself as a social activist fighting for justice while using public trust as a means to launder money and channel funds into online boxing gambling networks, with transactions worth hundreds of millions of of baht.

The investigation grew out of cases handled by the Bueng Kum police station and CCIB Division 1, which had dismantled online gambling networks operating through the “Muay Phak Yok Variety” and “Phak Yok Variety Investment Deposit” Line groups. Investigators said financial records provided strong evidence linking Mr Atchariya to the networks. Two bank accounts linked to the activist recorded combined transactions of more than 350 million baht, they said.

His personal Kasikornbank account recorded 1,196 transactions worth 191 million baht from January 2024 to April 2025. Another Kbank account in the name of the Crime Victims Assistance Club recorded 5,140 transactions worth 168 million baht from May 2013 to April 2026.

Several complainants said they had been persuaded by advertisements on social media to donate money because they believed the club was helping society and fighting injustice. Some alleged they were threatened by Mr Atchariya after he learned they were planning to file complaints, said the arresting team.

Police are expanding the investigation to identify other people allegedly involved and take legal action against them, Pol Maj Gen Prasong said. (Story continues below)

Police escort crime victims’ rights activist Atchariya Ruengrattanapong after he was arrested outside the Siam Om Noi boxing stadium in Samut Sakhon on Saturday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Extortion allegations

In April this year, Mr Atchariya was granted bail after being charged in connection with an alleged 2.5-million-baht extortion plot targeting people involved in the justice process.

The case arose from complaints brought by an immigration police officer who said he was pressured to pay money to prevent Mr Atchariya from posting allegations that he was involved in the illegal removal of Chinese detainees from a detention centre.

Last year, Mr Atchariya staged a high-profile public campaign exposing alleged corruption linking police officers, politicians and online gambling networks. He claimed that financial flows from the BNK Master network involved over 30 police officers and multiple politicians.