PUBLISHED: 27 Nov 2024 at 05: 08
Gen Vitch Devahasdin na Ayudhya, a close associate of Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, tried to distance the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ) leader from politician Samart Janechaijittawanich, who was arrested on Monday in connection with the high-profile public fraud case linked to The iCon Group.
On Tuesday, Gen Vitch described the arrested legislator as someone who has been stealing the spotlight by approaching and forming relationships with Gen Prawit. He insisted he does not know Mr. Samart in people.
Gen Vitch was responding to an argument made by Sira Jenjaka, a previous PPRP MP for Bangkok, that a member of the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation, Gen Prawit, had called for assistance in order to free Mr. Samart.
” From my experience, Mr Samart does n’t have any close connection with anyone in the foundation”, said Gen Vitch.
He claimed that Gen. Prawit had no cause for concern because he had not been a part of the controversy.
He claimed that despite being alleged, Gen. Prawit had mentioned the circumstance in moving, but that he had never called in a friend to assist Mr. Samart.
Gen Vitch claimed that Gen Prawit was only being kind by allowing Mr. Samart to spend some of his time without being entirely conscious of his character or deeds, and that” that person was simply trying to hog the limelight by associating with brother Pom [Gen Prawit ]”.
According to the Department of Special Investigation ( DSI), Mr. Samart has denied laundering money in connection with the millions of baht he received from The iCon Group, a direct sales company that is being investigated for alleged public fraud.
Mr. Samart denied the money-laundering command during a questioning session in Bangkok on Monday evening, according to DSI Director-general Yutthana Praedam, and he promised to produce a written evidence of his innocence within 15 days.
Mr Samart and his family Wilawan Phutthasamrit, who was arrested before, insisted the three million ringgit they received from The image Group came as loans and gifts. They claimed the 2.5 million baht was from CEO Warathaphon, aka” Boss Paul” Waratyaworrakul, and the remainder from Klot” Boss Peter” Sretthanan, the DSI said.