Police and anti-money laundering officials discuss asset seizure in fraud case
Police search a vehicle belonging to high-profile lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd at his luxury home in Bangkok’s Taling Chan district after he and his wife were arrested on fraud charges on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) is in talks with police investigators about following the money trail and assets of the high-profile lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd and his wife, who are accused of fraud And money laundering.
Amlo is working with the police Crime Suppression Division (CSD) to investigate the financial dealings of Mr. Sittra and his wife. No assets have been seized from them so far, Amlo spokesperson Witthaya Neetitham said on Saturday.
Police searched Mr. Sittra’s luxury home last week and seized some belongings, including luxury cars, which was within the scope of their authority to check evidence, Mr. Witthaya said.
However, it is still uncertain whether further financial investigations will be carried out, as Amlo authorities must first work closely with the police, he added.
Mr Sittra Biabungkerd and his wife Patthitta were taken into custody on charges of fraud and money laundering, after the Criminal Court rejected Ms Patthitta’s bail application. Mr Sittra has not applied for bail.
Police attempted to detain the couple for 12 days, pending the questioning of another 10 witnesses in the case. Suspects can be held for up to 84 days before charges must be filed.
Mr Sittra was taken to Bangkok Remand Prison and his wife was taken to Central Women’s Correctional Institution.
Kanokwan Chewchuapun, director of the Penology Division at the Department of Corrections and acting director of the women’s prison, said Saturday that both were cooperating well with authorities, although it will take some time for them to adjust to being behind bars .
The department has provided medical and psychological support, she said, adding that they would be in quarantine for five days due to Covid-19 protocols.
There will be a one-week orientation period before authorities consider whether to send the suspects to regular detention areas, Ms Kanokwan said.
Authorities should carefully consider Mr. Sittra’s placement to avoid conflict, especially because of his ongoing cases, such as the iCon Group fraud case involving eleven male inmates in different areas of the prison.
Lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd will be taken from the police’s Crime Control Department to the Criminal Court on Friday. He and his wife were held in custody for 12 days while police continued their investigation. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
Mr Sittra and his wife were arrested on Thursday after police stopped their Porsche Cayenne on the Kabin Buri-Chachoengsao highway in Chachoengsao, away from Bangkok.
Police have charged them with fraud and money laundering over a billionaire’s claim that she lost 71 million baht to Mr Sittra.
Pol Maj Gen Akaradet Pimolsri, an assistant police chief, said the couple appeared to be preparing to escape to Cambodia, so police decided to arrest them. But their lawyer Saiyud Pengboonchu said they were traveling to earn money at a temple in Chachoengsao.
Two days earlier, Mr. Sittra had gone to the CSD office to request the police to question him about the case against him because he wanted to respond to all the rumors that were circulating.
The lawyer told reporters that the woman, who had won billions of baht in a European lottery, had given him the amount as a gift.
The 58-year-old woman, Jatuporn “Madame Oy” Ubonlert, had filed a complaint with the police and had been questioned several times before the arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Sittra.
Mr Saiyud said he considered the large sum of money given by Ms Jatuporn as an investment given solely to Mr Sittra.
As for Mr Sittra’s earlier claim that he received the money “out of affection”, Mr Saiyud said he had no idea why his client made such a statement.
Police searched a luxury home of lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd and his wife in Bangkok’s Taling Chan district on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
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