AMLO combats fraud by closing 680,000 mule accounts
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has listed 72,031 persons for electronic transaction monitoring and closed over 680,000 mule accounts.
AMLO’s Assistant Secretary-General, Witya Neetitham, yesterday reported on the Transaction Committee’s actions from December 2024 to January under the leadership of AMLO Secretary-General Tepsu Bowonchodidara. The committee has targeted assets linked to drug offences, fraud, and online gambling.
In drug-related offences, 15 cases involving assets worth over 510 million baht were processed. Assets worth over 507 million baht were seized or frozen in eight cases, while seven cases worth over 3 million baht were referred to the prosecutor for asset forfeiture. Notably, the case of Sureewan and associates involved significant money laundering connections, leading to the freezing of 125 assets in bank accounts worth about 505 million baht.
Fraud-related proceedings covered 15 cases amounting to over 6,529 million baht. Five cases saw the seizure of assets worth over 329 million baht. Among these, the case of Sittra and associates involved organised fraud and money laundering, resulting in the seizure of land, buildings, and bank deposits worth 71 million baht.
Jian and associates, of Chinese nationality, faced additional asset seizures worth 78 million baht following further investigations of previous orders valued at 27 million baht. Deuanapa and associates had previously seized 118 assets worth 574 million baht; further investigations led to an additional 95 million baht in asset seizures. Panuwat and associates faced asset seizures worth 81 million baht, covering land, buildings, and bank deposits.
In two cases worth over 2,800 million baht, prosecutors were asked to pursue asset forfeiture. The case involving The Icon Group resulted in 103 assets worth 286 million baht being declared state property, with 40 assets worth 29 million baht released after proving they weren’t linked to crimes. Sarit and associates, linked to Liancheng Co., faced forfeiture proceedings for 130 assets, including a large housing project worth about 2,552 million baht.
For victim protection, AMLO has given a 90-day window for victims to file claims for asset return. In eight cases worth over 3,400 million baht, assets are being returned to victims. The case of Ratchaya and associates involved 303 assets, including land, vehicles, and luxury goods worth 70 million baht. Chanin and associates, related to Stark shares, saw 50 assets worth approximately 3,244 million baht being processed for victim compensation.
Electronic gambling-related offences involved 10 cases worth over 158 million baht. Five cases with assets worth over 104 million baht were seized, while five were processed for asset forfeiture worth over 54 million baht. The case with www.sand168.com is worth noting, which led to the seizure of 742 assets, including cash and luxury items worth 100 million baht. Another case with www.ufav8.info involved 72 assets valued at 24 million baht. Janchira and associates faced the seizure of 164 assets, including bank deposits and real estate worth 25 million baht, reported KhaoSod.
AMLO’s announcement aims to curtail electronic transaction methods to prevent crime by monitoring 72,031 individuals, affecting 680,186 accounts. This measure is intended to prevent these accounts’ misuse for fraud and public harm, with over 2 billion baht in restricted accounts as of January 22.
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