Amendments made to Chuwong share certificates
Amendments were made to share certificates belonging to construction tycoon Chuwong Saetang, who died in a suspicious car crash on June 26, police have discovered.
“Some amendments were detected, but I can’t reveal details,” Crime Suppression Division superintendent Colonel Jirapop Phuridej said.
Chuwong had allegedly transferred shares worth nearly Bt300 million to two women just days before he died.
His family suspects his death was the result of foul play and has called for a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, police and Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) agents are also investigating stockbrokers in connection with the suspicious transfers of huge blocks of Chuwong’s shares before the construction magnate’s death.
Pol Lt-Colonel Banyin Tangpakorn, a former deputy commerce minister and MP and the driver of the car in which Chuwong died, postponed his testimony until tomorrow, Pol Colonel Jirapop Phuridet, superintendent of Crime Suppression Division 1, said yesterday.
A source said Banyin would be asked about his relationship to Chuwong as well as the late tycoon’s ties with 26-year-old product presenter Kantana Siwathanapon and broker Uracha Wachirakun-thon. Kantana received shares worth Bt228 million and Uracha received shares worth Bt40 million from Chuwong.
Police received the results of a forgery test on Chuwong’s signatures on the share-transfer documents from forensic police, but they said they would keep the details private to protect the investigation, the source said.
Police will summon people involved in the share transfers, especially those from AEC Securities, as only two persons from that brokerage have talked with police, the source said.
Seehanat Prayoonrat, secretary-general of AMLO, said his office is checking with many securities houses.
“We are seeing if they have followed the KYC [know your client – client due diligence] procedures,” he said.
Chuwong died on June 26 when the car in which he was a passenger crashed.
Police ruled it an accident, but Chuwong’s family raised doubts about the crash because Banyin escaped without a scratch and the two women had mysteriously been given shares.
Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Colonel Taweerat Sritawatpong said yesterday that evidence strongly suggested that Chuwong died in an accident. However, he said, Chuwong’s wife will soon be invited so investigators can explain the results in detail.
