Thailand seizes 5 billion baht in assets targeting fraud, corruption

Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) seized over 5 billion baht in assets this year, targeting fraud, online gambling, and corruption.

AMLO Secretary-General Theppasu Bavornchotidara, along with Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) assistant Secretary-General, Bhumivisan Kasemsook, disclosed the outcomes of the year’s 11th AMLO Transaction Committee meeting.

A total of 12,300 assets, valued at 4.5 billion baht, were confiscated in 48 fraud cases. Among these cases is one involving Peempong Hiranprueck, a senior civil engineer at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) Public Works Department, and another linked to the notorious Kofuk online gambling network.

Sanga “Kofuk” Kungwan, the key figure in the Kofuk network, is believed to have fled earlier this year. He faces charges related to an 18-billion-baht tax fraud and gambling scheme.

Peempong is accused of soliciting a bribe from a golf course owner in Nong Chok district. The bribe was allegedly in exchange for ensuring the golf course retained most of its land during a road construction project.

Pramual Saengkaewsri, head of the Ratchathewi district office’s revenue section, faced allegations of accepting bribes from business operators to evade property and land tax. AMLO seized 47 million baht in assets from both officials.

In the Kofuk case, AMLO confiscated 372 assets, including cash, jewellery, land, and bank accounts, worth a total of 963 million baht from Kungwan and his associates. Additionally, 107 assets valued at 3.1 billion baht were seized in various fraud cases where victims lost money to scammers.

One significant case involves Apimuk Bamrungwong, a former major shareholder of More Return Plc (MORE), and his network. They are allegedly tied to the 800-million-baht manipulation of MORE’s stock last year, which resulted in substantial investor losses.

Another major case highlighted by Theppasu involves an online gambling network connected to former Deputy National Police Chief, Police General Surachate ‘Big Joke’ Hakparn.

Theppasu stated that AMLO had seized 400,000 baht worth of assets linked to the crime. However, Hakparn is currently seeking the cancellation of the seizure, reported Bangkok Post.

These measures underscore Thailand’s ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes and corruption, ensuring justice and accountability for those involved.