Income discrepancies arise over NBCT lawyer’s 12m baht claim
Police suspect money is legal eagle's, investigation ongoing into origin
Police confirmed that a sum of 12 million baht found in a plastic box near a condominium’s rubbish area in Nonthaburi belongs to a lawyer and adviser to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Despite this, investigators have raised concerns about discrepancies between his income records and the possession of such a large amount of cash.
Taweewat Sengkaew claimed ownership of the money on Friday, June 6, after its discovery earlier in the week. Video footage from the condominium showed that the cash box was initially inside his unit, which had experienced water leaks, consistent with his account.
Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembut, the commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, confirmed that Taweewat has been questioned as a witness and has provided useful information.
Police suspect the money is indeed his, but further investigations are underway to determine the origin of the funds, including which bank account the cash was withdrawn from, who made the withdrawals, and how the cash ended up in the condo.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol, the withdrawals reportedly took place in May 2020 through multiple transactions.
Taweewat suggested that political reasons influenced his decision to withdraw the money, although he has not disclosed specific details.
Investigators have noted that the financial documents he submitted do not support the legitimacy of a 12 million baht income. Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol remarked on the unusual nature of storing such a large amount of cash in a room.
Police intend to summon Taweewat’s wife for additional questioning and will continue to scrutinise all related evidence.
Meanwhile, Police Major General Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), stated that various anti-corruption agencies, including the CIB, the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), will convene with the police to strategise the investigation and trace the source of the 12 million baht, reported Bangkok Post.
Police aim to verify whether the funds stem from legitimate legal work, as claimed by Taweewat, or from illicit sources.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat also questioned the rationale behind not storing the money in a bank or safe, deeming the explanation unreasonable. He encouraged the public to be patient, assuring them a clear outcome as the investigation progresses.
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