Infamous internet celeb Guo Meimei arrested for gambling

Infamous Internet celebrity Guo Meimei has been arrested for taking part in World Cup gambling activities, Beijing police confirmed on Thursday.

Beijing police on Wednesday arrested eight members of a gang for soccer gambling, according to the “Ping’an Beijing” microblog run by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The gang created an account on a foreign gambling website and organised illegal activities by betting via phone and the chat app Wechat during the World Cup.

Guo,who is in her 20s, confessed to taking part in gambling, according to the “Ping’an Beijing” blog.

She rose to infamy in 2011 by openly flaunting her wealth and extravagant lifestyle, while claiming on social media that she managed an organisation under the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC).

Guo, who flaunts her wealth on social media, has more than 1.8 million followers to her Weibo account. 

The scandal dealt a major hit to the reputation of the RCSC. The incident and ensuing scandals triggered public concern about embezzlement and improper management of charities.

Beijing police did not release details of the gambling activities.

Source: Xinhua