Thailand seizes 5 billion baht in assets targeting fraud, corruption

[webfact]

 

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.

 

by Ryan Turner
Image courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-09-23

 

[lordgrinz]

Do the officers get the spoils of this, future Joe Ferrari apprentices?

[worgeordie]

Must try harder , there's a lot more corruption out there if you

have a proper look...

 

regards Worgeordie

[hotchilli]

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

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.

Rich pickings for some....

[thaipo7]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

Do the officers get the spoils of this, future Joe Ferrari apprentices?

You know better than this.

[JeffersLos]

 

Last to take their hand off it wins it. 

[spidermike007]

Glad to see many called out by name here. 

 

The big joke was finally nailed for decades of corruption, and yet he wants his stuff back. Please please, I didn't do it, give me my stuff back.

 

Hope they finally lock him up. 

Edited September 23 by spidermike007

[ronster]

That's a lot of assets to split up between the arresting cops 😳

[phetphet]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Glad to see many called out by name here. 

 

The big joke was finally nailed for decades of corruption, and yet he wants his stuff back. Please please, I didn't do it, give me my stuff back.

 

Hope they finally lock him up. 

THB400,000 though?  Hardly big pickings for someone at his level.

[Xonax]

7 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Must try harder , there's a lot more corruption out there if you

have a proper look...

 

regards Worgeordie

 

Maybe the police are smart and wait for the small fish to grow bigger, before they catch them?

[Snackbar]

Big Joke wants his 10 large back

[nakhonandy]

4.5 billion, I wonder what the actual figure is for corruption yearly?

Considerably more I expect.

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, Xonax said:

 

Maybe the police are smart and wait for the small fish to grow bigger, before they catch them?

Of course they do, means bigger paydays for themselves.

[john donson]

only 48 cases in a whole year.. damn...

[spidermike007]

15 hours ago, phetphet said:

THB400,000 though?  Hardly big pickings for someone at his level.

That's all they've dared to discover and make public, it's likely into the tens of billions of baht, if not more.