Key player in KMITL case may have fled
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Police have launched a manhunt for Kitisak Mattujad, who is believed to be a key person in the embezzlement of Bt1.6 billion from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang (KMITL). It is believed he fled to Hong Kong.
Crime Suppression Division deputy chief Colonel Nos Svettalekha said yesterday that Kitisak was accused of transferring huge sums to other people’s bank accounts and then getting them to wire the funds back in exchange for a commission.
Meanwhile, police will also summon former KMITL rector Thawil Puengma and other people who were authorised to sign the institute’s financial documents under the current and previous administrations to provide information on Monday, Nos said.
Police initially found that each withdrawal had to be approved by two of the four persons in charge of the institute’s financial affairs.
So far, police have arrested the former chief of KMITL’s finance division, Ampon Noisamrit, 56; the former manager of the Bank of Ayudhya Big C Srinakarin branch, Songklod Sriprasong, 40; Poonsak Boonsawat, 26; and Jariwat Sahaporn-udomkarn, 32.
Poonsak and Jariwat were accused of getting the stolen money put in their bank accounts. Arrest warrants are out for Kitisak, Sombat Sopradit, Janjira Sopradit and Sompong Sahaporn-udomkarn.
They are all facing charges of forgery, colluding to embezzle the funds and money laundering.
Ampon, meanwhile, has been transferred to the Min Buri remand prison after the doctor treating her at the Police General Hospital declared that her diabetes had improved, Nos said.
Thai actor Pakorn Chatborirak on Thursday presented himself to police to show his sincerity and report that he had bought a Lamborghini from Kitisak for Bt13.5 million. He presented the purchase documents to the police and insisted he had nothing to do with the embezzlement, Nos said.
Meanwhile, police have said that there are many more accomplices and that they are gathering evidence to apply for their arrest warrants, while compiling seized assets for the Anti-Money Laundering Office to investigate to see if the assets were gained legitimately.
