A close aide to “Inspector Sua”, a police officer accused of running a multi-billion baht online gambling network and money laundering scheme, died, apparently from suicide, in his detention cell at Khlong Luek police station in Sa Kaeo province yesterday (Monday).

Pongsathon Inamnuay, director of the Bureau of Narcotic Crimes at the Department of Special Investigations (DSI), told the media today that the suspect, identified only as “Phakphum”, was found dead in his detention cell yesterday morning, before he was due to be taken to the DSI for questioning.

Pongsathon said that the suspect’s death might be the result of stress, as the suspect had told his colleagues that he might commit suicide if he could not resolve his case this month.

The deceased’s remains will be sent to the Police General Hospital in Bangkok for an autopsy.

Phakphum was charged with money laundering and organising illegal online gambling, but Pongsathon said DSI officials suspect that Phakphum might also have been involved in illegal narcotics trafficking by selling “Happy Water”, a synthetic drug cocktail, to gamblers.