Thailand's Minister of Justice, Tawee Sodsong, stated that the Thai government denies allegations of mistreatment against a Chinese gambling tycoon accused of operating illegal online gambling in Southeast Asia.
The Chinese-born gambling tycoon, She Zhijiang, claimed that he experienced "inhumane treatment" in a Thai prison, including violence that left him unable to stand. She's lawyer mentioned these allegations in a letter to Interpol, which was reported by Reuters last week.
Minister Tawee, speaking at the Government House in Bangkok, told reporters, "We treat him the same way we treat other prisoners, and his meetings with his lawyer are normal."
He added that the prison is equipped with security cameras to prevent any abuse or torture.
However, the minister did not respond to the allegations made in the letter by She's lawyer, which stated that officials from the Chinese embassy had gone to the prison without She's consent, trying to persuade him to return to China.
She Zhijiang, who has claimed to be a victim of political persecution, was arrested in Bangkok in 2022 under an international arrest warrant and a red notice issued by China. In 2023, a Thai court ruled to extradite him to China, but She Zhijiang is appealing the decision.
Minister Tawee stated that Cambodia has also requested the extradition of She Zhijiang, as he holds Cambodian nationality. The final destination of the extradition will be decided by the appellate court.
According to media reports, She Zhijiang is the chairman of Yatai International Holdings Group, which has made gambling investments in Cambodia, the Philippines, and recently developed a $5 billion replica casino and entertainment resort complex in Kayin state, Myanmar, located opposite Thailand's Tak province.
A statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that She Zhijiang is a Chinese national and a "key figure in online gambling and telecommunications fraud crimes," with "conclusive" evidence against him.
According to a United Nations report, Southeast Asia, especially the border areas of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, has become a hub for telecommunications fraud and other online crimes since the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of thousands of people trafficked to work in scam centers.
