Gold still missing after raids linked to tax fraud
THE HEAD of the Anti-Money Laundering Office was forced to defend his agency after officials returned empty-handed yesterday from raids on four sites linked to suspects in the Bt4.3-billion value-added tax refunds affair.
AMLO chief Seehanat Prayoonrat insisted that details of the raids had not been leaked, saying that officials were only told about them on Monday evening.
Although AMLO coordinated with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), he said there was little chance of the information being leaked, adding that the suspects must have been aware such a move might occur and had removed valuables well in advance.
He said a bank had said the safe, in which key suspect Weerayuth Saelhok reportedly stored gold he bought to launder illegally acquired money had been accessed several times in May. Officials found the safe empty, but they managed to “freeze” ownership of a Bt15-million condominium and a Bt11-million unit, both in Sukhumvit Soi 24, as well as land plots and other assets related to the case, he said. He promised to reveal more details at a press conference today.
The gold, reportedly worth more than Bt300 million, is believed to still be in Thailand, Seehanat said. He added that inquiries showed that the gang has bought luxury cars and that the AMLO would also be “freezing” ownership of them.
DSI chief Tarit Pengdith echoed Seehanat’s comments, saying the information had not leaked from his agency, adding that there would be no finger pointing as the two agencies were working closely. Tarit also said the gold must have been removed before the case broke and state officials called on the bank not to allow access to the safe.
Some newspapers had reported about the planned raid, but he did not believe the suspects could have removed their valuables that quickly, as the bank only opened at 8am. Also the officials were very careful, he said.
Initial DSI inquiries found that Weerayuth and his gang had registered bogus companies using the names and identification documents of poor people. They then produced fake documents to claim VAT refunds.
The DSI had offered a Bt1-million reward for information, which led to the arrest of five suspects including Weerayuth.
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