Police arrested a former insurance-company manager who allegedly embezzled nearly Bt50 million to bet on football matches.

Police arrested suspect Surasak Seutrong, 41, in Bangkok's Bang Khen district on Thursday evening.

His former company complained in November last year that Surasak had withdrawn a total of Bt49 million from his own bank account and fled.

Police found the suspect had slowly embezzled the money to bet on football matches until he was deep in debt and could no longer cover up his crimes. He fled to live with a relative in Bang Khen.