Hunt is on for alleged CCTV firm embezzler
The owner of a Bangkok firm that sells CCTV cameras who was allegedly cheated out of Bt4.7 million by an employee plans to sue his bank to failing to notice the forged signature on the cheques used in the fraud.
Natthakit Piyachroenwattana said Thursday he would sue the unspecified bank for negligence after Chanyapak Ngamlamom, 35, who worked in his firm’s financial department, allegedly embezzled the money from 2014-2016.
Natthakit and his wife and business partner, Pavena Saingam, were at Bang Phlat Police Station checking on progress in the investigation.
Natthakit alleges that Chanyapak forged Pavena’s signature on cheques, but said the bank should have been able to discern the difference between the real signature and the fake.
He said Chanyapak disappeared after he and his wife discovered the alleged crime in February.
In October, forensic examination confirmed that the signatures on 162 cheques used to transfer money to the suspect’s bank account did not match Pavena’s.
Natthakit said bank officials had acknowledged that the signatures were not properly scrutinised and promised to compensate him for half the amount he lost.
He is consulting a lawyer about suing the bank for additional compensation.
While admitting partial blame because he had trusted his employee, Natthakit said the bank should have at least checked with him by phone about the signatures.
Noting that an arrest warrant had been issued for Chanyapak on December 13 for theft and forgery, he urged police to find her quickly.
The suspect has allegedly changed her name at least three times in the past year.