Thai police interrogate social media gambling promoters

The Thailand police initiative against online promoters of gambling has caught up with a number of models who have large internet social media followings and use their popularity to promote gambling (see previous reports)

Among the latest interrogated by the police is Irish born but Thai resident Jessie Vard, who regularly posts often scantily clad images of herself to her 2.5 million Facebook followers, but also writes gambling promotional material into her presentations…especially with World Cup football fever now in full swing.

Vard also posts on Instagram, were she has almost 180,000 followers.

This week, the 21 year old turned herself in at Bangkok’s Phayathai Police Station following the issue of warrants of arrest, along with fellow models Paradee Koosinsap (21), Saitarn Yim-ampai (20), Nirada Kuenongkun (25) and Thanyakarn Lojin (23).

A police spokesman advised that the models now await sentencing under the Anti-Gambling Act, in which they could face up to one year in prison and/or fines.

During a police press conference Tuesday Vard apologised publicly on behalf of the group of models, admitting that she accepted compensation for the selfies, but claiming she didn’t know promoting betting sites was illegal.

Nine other social media influencers have yet to answer similar police summonses, according to Maj. Gen. Panurat Lakboon, a deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police. He suggested that so-called internet idols should become role models for the youth.

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