A gangster-turned-actor who starred in the hit movie A Prayer Before Dawn has been arrested on illegal gambling charges in Thailand.

Panya Yimumphai, better known by his gangster name Keng Laiprang or 'Keng Camouflage', was detained at his home in Pathum Thani province just north of Bangkok on May 8 for allegedly posting social media videos encouraging his viewers to gamble on an illegal website.

Cyber cops executed search warrants and combed through three locations in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, and Chiang Mai to find evidence related to Keng's alleged crimes, in a country where gambling is still illegal and strictly policed.

The troubled celebrity - whose face is covered with intimidating tattoos he acquired while serving an eight-year prison sentence - was detained on suspicion of violating Section 12 of Thailand's Gambling Act for 'inviting people directly or indirectly to participate or to gamble in a game which is held without the permission of the authorities.'

Keng reportedly confessed that he was recruited by the gambling website's administrator through a messaging app. He said he was paid around 250,000 (USD 7,420) to 300,000 baht (USD 8,900) per month to promote the website.

He said he resorted to accepting the illegal job due to his failing business ventures, which were insufficient in paying his financial obligations.

He said: 'I am aware that what I did was wrong, and I was worried that I would be arrested. I wanted to quit, but the income I make from my businesses is not enough to meet my expenses, so it was necessary to find this kind of avenue.'

Keng had served an eight-year prison sentence for attempted murder and robbery in 2003. He was released in 2011, after which he gained online fame and international recognition for playing a gangster in the 2017 Muay Thai film ‘A Prayer Before Dawn' - starring English boxer Billy Moore.

Months after the movie's release, Keng was thrown back behind bars after he was found guilty of smuggling drugs into prison in 2008.