15 people have been arrested following an investigation into sellers overcharging for lottery tickets at Wat Phra That Doi Kham in Mae Hia.
The investigation, led by Crime Suppression Division Police – Special Inspectorate and representatives of the Government Lottery Office were acting after receiving complaints from members of the public.
Sending in undercover officers, the investigation found that some shops were selling tickets for 90 baht despite the legal price of the tickets being 80 baht. In some cases, prices were also higher again with some sellers found to be selling sets of five tickets for 600 baht – the equivalent of 120 baht per ticket and up to 2,000 baht for a set of 15 tickets (133.33 baht each) for so-called “lucky numbers.”
Those arrested were taken to Chiang Mai Police Station where they were fined 2,000 baht each and warned that if they were arrested again the fine next time would be higher. The maximum penalty under Thai law for overcharging on a lottery ticket is 10,000 baht.
Officials warned that they would be randomly patrolling lottery sellers in the metro area and will make more arrests if sellers are found to be illegally overcharging for the tickets.
Photo: nist6dh/Flickr
