Suspect in Bt4m family embezzlement case already in jail
Police have traced one of the three suspects wanted for allegedly embezzling millions of baht in compensation money from a family. But she is already in jail for a drug conviction.
“Investigators have already gone to the prison to make sure she is detained for embezzlement charges too,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt General Sanit Mahathavorn said Thursday. “We will also track down the other two suspects.”
Earlier this week, a court approved arrest warrants for lawyer Pisit Sammalert, his wife Pornpavee Chukaew and Thitapa Sawasdee in connection with Pisit’s failure to hand over Bt4million compensation to Porntip Chantarat and her daughter, Pattarada Kaewpong.
Porntip lost her husband and was injured in an accident 12 years ago. The accident seriously injured the couple’s baby and Pattarada has since become wheelchair-bound.
A transport firm responsible for the accident had been ordered to pay the victim’s family Bt4 million compensation. But Pisit allegedly duped Porntip into assigning him to pick up the compensation on her behalf. He then took most of the money for himself.
Pornpavee and Thitapa are his alleged accomplices.
Pisit and Thitapa are now believed to be on the run.
Metropolitan Police Division 7 chief Pol Maj General Thirapong Wongratpitak said Pisit cancelled his subscription to cell-phone services after the scandal broke.
“But we will go after him,” Thirapong said.
