Sadao police superintendent Bunthaeng Laocharoen said the 55-year-old Teow, who is the founder of MBI Group International, had been handed over to the immigration police in Songkhla and later transferred to Suan Plu immigration office in Bangkok.

Bunthaeng denied a Bangkok Post report yesterday that Teow had been arrested in Songkhla on charges relating to money laundering in connection with an online gambling venture in Danok, Sadao.

“Teow is on the Interpol Red Notice list and he was called in to be informed that his visa had been revoked. He will not be charged in Thailand,” he said.

Immigration bureau deputy commissioner Achayon Kraithong told Bernama that Teow would be deported, but did not say to which country. He just said: “Now, it’s under consideration on immigration procedures.”

Yesterday, the Bangkok Post, quoting Surachate Hakparn, assistant to the national police chief, reported that Teow had been arrested and charged with money laundering.

The report said he had fled to Danok in Sadao in 2020. It said MBI Group operates an entertainment complex, including a resort at the Thailand-Malaysia border town of Danok.

Teow built a business empire from elaborate investment schemes, luring investors from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Macau, Bernama reported.

In 2017, Teow had been initially arrested by the Thai Narcotics Suppression Bureau on drug charges. However, he fled Songkhla and managed to escape capital punishment.

In 2019, the Malaysian authorities froze 91 bank accounts with RM177 million linked to MBI Group International. Bank Negara had flagged the company for allegedly operating a dubious financial scheme.