Songkhla trafficking cases to be moved to new division
Play
Deputy national police chief General Aek Angsananont said the human trafficking case in Songkhla's Padang Besar district will be transferred to the Criminal Court's newly opened division on human trafficking to speed up prosecutions.
Yesterday’s announcement came after the Songkhla-based Nathawee Provincial Court issued more arrest warrants in relation to the case.
The court issued arrest warrants for 187 suspects – 42 of whom face an additional money laundering charge, a meeting of case investigators, led by Pol Maj-General Paween Pongsirin, was told at the Provincial Region 9 Police Operation Centre in Hat Yai.
Seventy-two suspects in this case are currently on trial, with the case having reached advanced witness interviewing stage.
The 12 money-laundering suspects were apprehended on Wednesday and are believed to be members of a human trafficking network in Satun and Ranong. They were to have undergone interrogation at the centre yesterday afternoon.
Aek said the Anti-Money Laundering Office had reported that assets with an estimated value of Bt200 million were seized from the accused so far.
