Police Seek Arrest Warrants for”Powerful” Thai Over $5 Million in Scam Money

Police in Thailand have petitioned the criminal court to issue arrest warrants for several “powerful” Thais in connection with suspected Chinese scammers’ efforts to access US$5.Million (176 million baht) in a local bank account.

Warrants will be sought for two extra suspects, said Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, deputy national police chief, on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, four suspects turned themselves in, including a physician with an MR title who is the child of the previous director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration. They are charged with theft and fraud after allegedly assisting a Cambodian man in withdrawing money using forged papers.

According to investigators, the suspects pleaded guilty to the charge and gave information on where the money came from.

According to Pol Gen Surachate, the source is thought to be a deceased Chinese man who was reportedly one of the main drug dealers involved with an illegal surrogate gang that Chinese authorities were after.

According to investigators, the suspects taught the Cambodian man to refer to himself as the Chinese man while withdrawing the money on March 24. If the facial recognition scan failed, he was to inform the bank employees that he had extensive “face-off” surgery.

Many withdrawal attempts failed due to the Cambodian’s untrustworthy information, which included false information about his identity as well as financial proof.

The newest developments followed a raid on a company in the Silom area on Tuesday morning, where a Chinese victim had been held for ransom by a suspect of the same nationality. The raid resulted in the arrest of seven suspects, including Chinese and Cambodian nationals, and the discovery of fake documents at a physician’s clinic in the Rama IX neighbourhood.

According to investigative sources, the kidnapping victim stated that the suspects were involved with an illegal ID card and passport provider who also played another function as a provider of Thai surrogate mothers.

Police Bust Bangkok District Official

Meanwhile, a senior Bangkok district official who was apprehended with an envelope containing 3.2 million baht in cash has denied it was a bribe he allegedly demanded from a development company, telling police he believed it contained only a document.

Pramual Saengkaewsri, 57, the director of the Ratchathewi district office revenue division, was arrested on Tuesday in the parking lot of a hotel in the Phaya Thai area of Ratchathewi district.

He was charged with bribery as an official and malfeasance in office in violation of Section 157 of the Criminal Code, according to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, head of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD).

He claimed that Mr Pramual contacted a real estate firm about paying construction and land tax in the amount of 40 million baht. He allegedly agreed to assist the firm avoid the tax if it agreed to pay him 3 million baht.

Mr. Pramual then raised the figure to 3.5 million baht, claiming it was for service costs because he had to split the money with other committee members. The amount was reportedly reduced to 3.2 million baht after negotiations.

The company’s management believed he was acting inappropriately and preferred to pay the building and land tax lawfully, so they reported the matter to the ACD. According to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat.

Police investigators decided that the allegation had merit and prepared a sting. A business representative would hand over the 3.2 million baht to Mr Pramual at an agreed-upon location – a hotel parking lot in the Phaya Thai area.

As the appointed time approached, officers observed Mr Pramual appear in an official vehicle. Police arrested him after receiving an envelope holding the money, according to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat. The envelope holding the money was impounded as evidence right away.

Mr Pramual denied all allegations during questioning. He claimed he had no idea the envelope held money. He stated that he believed it was only a paper.

His refusal did not sway the cops. He was being held in jail pending legal procedures.

On Wednesday, Bangkok city clerk Khachit Chatchawanit announced that an internal investigation had also started. According to him, Mr Pramual could face severe disciplinary charges.

Mr Pramual has been transferred administratively from Ratchathewi to the office of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s permanent secretary. Mr Khachit stated that the inquiry was ongoing.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated on Wednesday that the BMA received a complaint from the company about a bribe demand involving the head of the revenue section at Ratchathewi district office two months ago.

The city government had to proceed with caution. There was no evidence, and the BMA lacked the legal power to detain the official. Instead, it collaborated closely with police anti-corruption units, which resulted in the police raid on Tuesday.

He told other district offices that the BMA would not tolerate corruption. He stated that all employees must have clean records.