Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

Thailand’s Appeal Court has upheld a lower court ruling ordering the extradition of She Zhijiang, also known as Zhai Jianjiang, a Chinese–Cambodian national accused of operating a vast illegal gambling empire. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) announced the ruling on 10 November 2025, confirming that She will be sent to China within 90 days to face prosecution under Chinese criminal law for running unlawful casino operations.

 

She is accused of founding and managing 239 online gambling websites with a combined turnover exceeding 2.77 trillion yuan(approximately 12.63 trillion baht). Chinese authorities allege he directed the creation and management of these platforms and was involved in establishing the Asia Pacific New City in the Shwe Kokko Special Economic Zone in Myanmar. The development included at least two casinos that targeted Chinese gamblers and generated enormous illicit profits through online gambling channels.

 

The extradition was made under the 1993 Thailand–China Extradition Treaty, a case regarded by Beijing as highly significant. She was initially detained in August 2022, following a provisional arrest request from China. The Attorney General’s Office, acting as Thailand’s central authority under the Extradition Act of 2008, approved cooperation and assigned prosecutors from the International Affairs Department to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs and the Royal Thai Police.

 

After his arrest, China submitted a formal extradition request in November 2022. In May 2023, the Criminal Court ordered his detention pending extradition, a decision She appealed in October 2023. He later challenged the constitutionality of Sections 19 and 21 of the Extradition Act, arguing they violated Thailand’s Constitution. However, on 22 October 2025, the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled that the provisions were constitutional, clearing the way for the Appeal Court to affirm the original ruling.

 

With the decision now final, Thai authorities will coordinate She’s transfer to Chinese custody. The OAG praised the collaboration between Thai and Chinese officials, highlighting the role of the Foreign Ministry, the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Corrections and the Chinese Embassy in ensuring legal proceedings.

 

She Zhijiang, who holds Cambodian citizenship, is also known for his role in developing Dara Sakor, a controversial coastal project in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province and for links to the Shwe Kokko gambling hub in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region. He is accused of running illegal casinos and websites with more than 330,000 users, causing financial losses of over 150 million yuan (about 700 million baht).

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thailand’s Appeal Court upheld the extradition of Chinese–Cambodian tycoon She Zhijiang to China.

• She faces charges for operating 239 illegal gambling websites and casinos in Myanmar.

• The ruling marks a major success in Thailand–China cooperation against transnational crime.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Naewna 2025-11-11

 

 

 

 

Confusing when 'he' is called 'She'    🤣