AMLO freezes assets of suspects
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Investigators believe accused violated anti-graft laws
THE Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has frozen more than Bt44 million worth of assets belonging to several suspects linked to the ongoing high-profile lese-majeste case.
The case involves fortune-teller Suriyan “Mor Yong” Sujaritpolwong and Major Prakrom Warunprapa, both of whom died in custody, as well as Jirawong Wattanathewasilp, Suriyan’s secretary, Kachachart Boondee, who was stripped of his colonel rank this week, and various other people in their close circle.
“We have grounds to believe these suspects violated anti-graft laws and anti-money-laundering laws,” Pol Colonel Seehanat Prayoonrat, AMLO’s secretary-general, said yesterday.
He said the transaction committee, therefore, resolved on Tuesday to freeze 11 items of assets related to the suspects.
“The freeze will remain effective until February 21,” Seehanat said.
Among the frozen assets are Kachachart’s several bank accounts, which have more than Bt10 million in cash, and bills of exchange worth about Bt20 million.
Also frozen are Suriyan’s bank account, his condominium, his relative’s bank account, Jirawong’s bank account and his condominium.
Jirawong, Suriyan, Prakrom and Kachachart were charged with several crimes in relation to falsely citing the Royal Family for personal gain in the course of collecting donations and sponsorship.
Before his arrest, Suriyan had served as an adviser to a subcommittee responsible for holding public relations activities for the “Bike for Mom” cycling event on August 16, as well as the “Bike for Dad” event scheduled for December 11.
At present, Jirawong is the only suspect currently in detention.
Prakrom, who previously worked at the Technology Crime Suppression Division, reportedly committed suicide while in custody. Suriyan died |of a blood disorder, according to |the Corrections Department.
Kachachart stopped turning up for work at the Third Army Area once Suriyan’s gang was exposed last month.
Many sources suggested Kachachart had fled overseas.
A source said AMLO had not found any assets in Prakrom’s name but it was trying to determine whether he put his properties in the names of other people.
“Once the links are established, more asset-freezing orders will be issued,” Seehanat said.
In a related development, Pol Maj-General Chayapol Chatchaidej – an investigator handling the lese-majeste case – yesterday confirmed that the Bangkok Military Court and the Bangkok South Criminal Court had approved arrest warrants for six more suspects on Wednesday.
“One is a major-general. Many were former police officers attached to the Central Investigation Bureau,” he said.
Asked whether more suspects would be identified, Chayapol said the authorities would proceed based on the evidence.
