Published on January 16, 2005

Sa Kaew - A group of nine Thai gamblers, including a Chiang Mai socialite, have been detained in Cambodia after they were caught allegedly using hi-tech electronic equipment to fix bets at Poipet’s Vegas Casino.

Casino staff said they had found two Thais with hidden micro-cameras on their persons while playing baccarat inside the casino.

The devices were linked to GPRS and Bluetooth communication systems that sent signals to a notebook PC monitored by other group members staying in a hotel room upstairs, said casino staff.

The scam allowed the group to see the cards being dealt in the game and then relayed the information to members at the gaming table, they said.

The group reportedly cheated Bt90 million from the casino.

Among those detained inside Cambodia since last Wednesday are Chokaew Wisuthaseriwong, 61. Chokaew is a relative of well-known socialite Koko Prakaikavil na Chiang Mai and the chairman of Chiang Mai’s Provincial Administrative Organisation, Thawatwong na Chiang Mai.

The gambling party crossed into Poipet on Monday.

Sources said the nine had not been permitted to leave the Vegas Casino after officers caught them allegedly using the electronic equipment to fix bets.

“Three Thais managed to flee the casino with Bt90 million, but nine were left behind,” a source said.

The sources said Cambodian police were trying to negotiate with the nine in an effort to get them to return their gambling winnings in exchange for their release.

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