Amlo seizes billions in major fraud cases

Lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, 44, greets reporters as he was escorted to the Criminal Court last month. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, 44, welcomes reporters as he was escorted to the Criminal Court next month. ( Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill )

The Anti-Money Laundering Office ( Amlo ) has announced significant progress in tackling fraud cases, including those involving high-profile lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, The iCon Group, and Stark Corporation, seizing and freezing assets worth billions.

Following a conference of the invoice council on Monday, Amlo Secretary-General Theppasu Bavornchotidara and official Witthaya Neetham released the findings.

Important details include the arrest and melting of assets related to 12 key cases, generally large-scale fraud, drug-related felonies and virtual gambling networks, comprising over 234 items with profits valued at about 836 million baht.

In the case of prosecutor Mr Sittra and his affiliates, who were charged with fraud and money laundering, Amlo froze three assets, including area, houses, and bank balances, totalling 71 million ringgit.

A full of 122 property and home price about 669 million ringgit were seized from the situation involving Duennapa Kaewkamnerd and her accomplices that were under Amlo’s watch for common fraud.

A Chinese woman and her team are also facing charges of money laundering and fraud in the public. A total of 66 goods, including condominium units and bank accounts, for 78 million ringgit were seized from the situation.

Amlo even confiscated 22 resources, including area, properties and bank balances, amounting to around 81 million baht, of Panuwat Jaiman and partners who were charged with open scam involving money trading.

In the context of the image Group situation, 103 property worth$ 286 million were proposed as state property, and 40 items worth$ 29 million were returned to the claimants who provided evidence of legitimate equity.

Survivors of the case have until Feb 17 to report states, according to Amlo. The company will finally compile a list of claimants and destruction assessments before turning cases over to the civil court to ask for restitution or compensation for victims based on their losses rather than condition appropriation.

Additional activities for the property seized from the situation are being considered by the legal court in connection with Chanin Yensudjai, former president of Stark Corporation. More than 3, 900 victims have been repaid by Amlo, who has turned the case over to the prosecution. This involves 50 assets totalling around 3.24 billion baht.

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Ex-PPRP MPs set to join Kla Dharma

Narumon: To give Thamanat key role
Narumon: To offer Thamanat crucial role

The leader of the Kla Dharma Party, Narumon Pinyosinwat, confirmed on Tuesday that the 20 MPs kicked out of the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ) last week will be joining her party” soon”.

Ms. Narumon, who is currently in charge of the cabinet’s agriculture and partnerships, added that Thamanat Prompow may have a significant role in the organization.

Nevertheless, she declined to verify information which claimed Capt Thamanat may be appointed as the group’s chief director, while Pai Leeke, a previous PPRP MP for Kamphaeng Phet, may be named Kla Dharma’s secretary-general.

The 20 Members who had a falling out with gathering key Prawit Wongsuwon were last year formally expelled from the PPRP because of their close ties to Capt. Thamanat, who had a falling out with him.

The party is collaborating with the Election Commission (EC ) to ensure that all MPs are properly registered as Kla Dharma members by the end of the year, she continued.

Responding to her opinions, EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said the EC is still waiting for the days of the PPRP conference, which resolved to remove the 20 Lawmakers from the group.

The account of these MPs may have quickly vanished the instant the movement was passed, according to Mr. Sawaeng, provided the minimum conditions were met, which would mean that three-quarters of the party’s executives voted to remove them.

Before arguing that he couldn’t verify whether the expulsion was carried out in the right way, he said,” If so, these MPs are then free to move to the new group.”

Kla Dharma had previously informed the EC that the MPs had agreed to join the group, he claimed.

By Tuesday, Kla Dharma had previously stated it may write a statement regarding the 20 MPs ‘ move. It remained unclear as of press day on Tuesday as of whether the group had done so.

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Anwar taps Thaksin for Asean role

Govt praises the visit as beneficial for Thailand

Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra

The government has welcomed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra‘s appointment as an informal adviser, which the government says will help the two countries ‘ efforts to achieve peace in southern Thailand and joint development efforts.

When Malaysia assumes the chairman of the regional alliance next month, Mr. Anwar said he would nominate Thaksin as an unofficial adviser on Asean matters.

The program was announced by Mr Anwar at a combined press conference on Monday with Thaksin’s girl, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in Putrajaya.

Thaksin served as Thailand’s premier secretary from 2001 to 2006.

” I have agreed to appoint]Thaksin ] as my informal adviser on chairing Asean, along with a team of members from Asean countries in an informal setup”, the Bernama news agency quoted him as saying.

” Thank you for agreeing to this, as we need to benefit from the experience of such a statesman”, Mr Anwar said during the joint press conference.

After Laos leaves its seat this year, Malaysia may assume the presidency of the Asean.

Phumtham Wechayachai, the minister of defense, announced on Tuesday that Thaksin would make an official director option for Mr. Anwar.

” Thaksin has expertise in solving Thailand’s difficulties and gained recognition from various locations. He even served as an assistant in some places”, said Mr Phumtham, who also serves as a deputy prime minister.

” Mrs. Anwar’s advice may contribute to the two countries ‘ economic growth. In specific, the appointment may gain efforts to address issues in the heavy South”.

When asked if the Thai authorities did consider appointing Thaksin as its assistant, Mr. Phumtham said it largely depends on whether the rules would permit him to do so.

” If the law allows, the government is ready to talk to his advice”, he said.

Mr. Phumtham even shone adulation that Thaksin might interfere with other Asean people ‘ interests while acting as Mr. Anwar’s advisor.

Since the Malay excellent minister has recognized the features of the original Thai premier, Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong announced on Tuesday that Mr. Anwar intends to appoint Thaksin as an assistant. He claimed that Thaksin’s appointment would be beneficial for local grouping peace efforts and other regional grouping issues.

Romadon Panjor, a record MP for the major opposition group, claimed Mr. Anwar’s decision to appoint Thaksin as an assistant will help Thailand address the issue in the deep north, the turmoil in Myanmar, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The South China Sea problems involve beach and coastal states among many countries, such as Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China.

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Southern floods receding: PM

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra inspects flood-hit communities in downtown Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday. The province is among the worst-affected by the floods in the South. GOVERNMENT HOUSE
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra inspects flood-stricken areas of Nakhon Si Thammarat. One of the South’s worst-affected provinces is affected by the floods. GOVERNMENT HOUSE

As she visited stricken areas in Nakhon Si Thammarat, one of the region’s worst-hit provinces, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra gave assurances that enough comfort and emergency resources are reaching disaster victims in the South.

She added that starting on Thursday, the storm issue was anticipated to significantly ease.

The top, accompanied by her father, Pitaka Suksawat, who is a native of Nakhon Si Thammarat, visited the province and adjacent Surat Thani, where she was briefed on the water condition and met storm subjects and handed out disaster relief carriers to them.

She expressed her sympathy for all those who are already experiencing the floods, which are anticipated to have ended quickly.

More than 80 % of those affected have received needed support and payment, which is at least as quickly as previous floods in the North.

Ms. Paetongtarn emphasized the value of prompt and effective storm emails. She urged state companies to increase flood warning systems.

Thirty-seven fatalities have been recorded since storms wreaked havoc across many parts of the South on Nov 22 up until Tuesday, said Passakorn Boonyaluck, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

In all, 762, 163 communities in 11 southern counties have been impacted, while 161, 605 communities in Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang and Phatthalung also face hefty storms.

Water pumps, removal vehicles, portable water purifying products, boats and helicopters are being deployed to flooded locations as the evacuation procedure continues, he said.

Floodwater suddenly started to subside in the heavily inundated Muang city of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday as parts of some roads, such as Ratchadamnoen Road in front of Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital, were reopened to visitors.

However, alleys in low-lying communities in Muang district, as well as main roads in nearby districts of the province, remained heavily flooded.

Danai Ruangsorn, director-general of the Department of Airports, said airports in Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong and Surat Thani advised passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight departure.

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‘Money laundering couple’ arrested in Nonthaburi

A Thai lady and her Indonesian husband have been detained in Nonthaburi after laundering money for online gambling sites.

Pol Lt Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, deputy police commissioner, and Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewphan, acting chief of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB ), led the operation on Monday against the money laundering networks of online gambling gangs.

The group raided five spots in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Ayutthaya, and Nonthaburi.

They arrested Mr Pattama and Kia Lim Hao at a business in Nonthaburi’s Muang city. Police also confiscated 4 million baht in money, a gold ring weighing 45.6 milligrams, two timepieces for 2.6 million baht, 16 luxury carriers, a car, and a bank book. The resources ‘ total price was about 13 million ringgit.

Ms. Pattama claimed to have resided with Mr. Hao for three decades. To run a variety of companies, including a wine store and shrimp fishing, they established a company with two million baht in authorized capital.

The set was hired to laundering cash for an online betting network, according to Pol Lt Gen Thatchai, who claimed they had established a reputable business. More than 10 businesses in Bangkok and its surroundings were established using the money to build several fronts, including restaurants in Ekkamai and Ayutthaya and a shrimp diner in Lat Phrao.

Some of the businesses were not in activity.

Police may expand the investigation so that more than 20 offenders can be located.

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Phu Kradueng mountain to reopen next Monday after a tourist’s death

People rise early to catch the sunrise on the famous Phu Kradueng in Loei. (File photo)
Individuals rise early to see the sun on Loei’s popular Phu Kradueng. ( File photo )

The common Phu Kradueng hills in Loei province will be reopened next Monday after a wild elephant’s deadly assault on a visitor led to its new closure.

Attapon Charoenchansa, director-general of the office, said on Tuesday that the reopening was scheduled after security measures were planned to defend tourists to the northern tourist destination.

Guests will be contacted via a LINE chat software area, where they will be informed of safety instructions and any instructions about potential danger from wild elephants, he claims.

Each customer will also be required to pay a 10-baht healthcare premium for 300, 000-baht policy.

Tourists must travel in a group of at least three people, stay on designated trails, and merely enter designated areas.

To secure a two-kilometer radius of each tourist’s region, park rangers may use quick-movement teams to deploy.

Because they previously attracted exotic animals, there won’t be any garbage bins on Phu Kradueng, according to Mr. Attapon.

After the Dec. 11 death of a guest there, he closed Phu Kradueng next Friday.

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Phu Kradueng trails to reopen with new safety measures

No hapless walkers, safety lecture, coverage in midst of deadly elephant attack

People rise early to catch the sunrise on popular Phu Kradueng in Loei. (Photo: Bangkok Post)
On the common Phu Kradueng in Loei, people rise early to enjoy the sun. ( Photo: Bangkok Post )

Following Monday, December 23, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation will resume the famed Phu Kradueng hills in Loei territory to customers.

After an elephant fatally struck a customer walking a trail on December 11, it was closed next Friday.

Guests to the northeast visitor interest are being protected by new safety measures, according to director-general Attapon Charoenchansa.

Readers will be notified of health instructions and any warnings about potential danger from wild elephants in a LINE chat game room where they will be invited and registered.

Each customer will also be required to pay a 10-baht healthcare premium for 300, 000-baht policy.

Tourists must travel in a group of at least three people, stay on designated trails, and just enter designated locations.

To secure a two-kilometer circle of every tourist destination, park rangers may be stationed in quick-movement groups.

Because they have been shown to attract exotic animals, Mr. Attapon said, there won’t be any garbage cans on Phu Kradueng. &nbsp,

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Cabinet refuses to abolish capital punishment

A Department of Corrections exhibition is seen on Oct 10, 2022. (File photo)
On October 10, 2022, a Department of Corrections show is visible. ( File photo )

According to deputy government spokesman Kharom Polpornklang, the cabinet rejected a request from the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC ) on Tuesday to abolish the death penalty in Thailand.

Mr. Kharom claimed that the cupboard accepted the NHRC’s proposal but accepted the judgments of the justice systems, which argued that the death penalty remained essential given the nature of some crimes.

He claimed that the NHCR recommended the end of the death penalty because it was a serious punishment that had been eliminated in several nations.

staff from the NHRC presented a plan to be carried out in four steps, which may eventually lead to the end of the death sentence at a recent conference to tag World Day Against the Death Penalty.

The four recommendations included removing the dying charges from new laws and amending existing ones to allow the courts to consider other methods.

Additionally, the plan demanded that the death penalty be reviewed in a way that is significant to the crime.

The final step is to ban all legislation from imposing the death penalty.

The legal field would help a costs attempting to end the death sentence in Thailand, it was agreed at the workshop that the decision to do away with it was a problem for human rights advocates.

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No govt ‘strategy role’ for Thaksin’s son

Pantongtae Shinawatra, left, last Friday boards a train to Prachuap Khiri Khan where the Pheu Thai Party held its seminar. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)
Pantongtae Shinawatra, left, last Friday board a coach to Prachuap Khiri Khan where the Pheu Thai Party held its conference. ( Photo: Chanat Katanyu )

The Pheu Thai Party on Tuesday disregarded a statement that Pantongtae Shinawatra, the sole son of former prime minister Thaksin, had been appointed chief of approach and the country’s economy.

The ruling party’s assistant representative, Chayapa Sindhuprai, stated on X that the report was completely unsupported and meant to stifle confusion and undermine the legitimacy of the coalition state.

She claimed that Mr. Pantongtae, the elder brother of Prime Minister and Pheu Thai head Paetongtarn Shinawatra, had no place in the group or the Pheu Thai-led state and that no visits had been made at the Pheu Thai Party’s new conference in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin area.

Ms Chayapa’s article was in response to information circulating on social media after the ruling group’s Dec 13-14 conference.

On social media, a photo of Mr. Pantongtae standing next to the train to Hua Hin was shared along with the statement” Pantongtae is joining the lecture as”chief of approach and national business.”

Legal analyst Paisal Puechmongkol, who appears to be bitterly congratulating Mr. Pantongtae on his new role, also shared the article on his Twitter page.

The EC’s inquiry panel will look into four complaints about Thaksin manipulating Pheu Thai, according to Election Commission (EC ) Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong on Tuesday. The panel will look into remarks made by Thaksin at the Hua Hin seminar last Friday accusing some coalition parties of avoiding last week’s cabinet meeting.

Their petitions cited the meeting of coalition party leaders at Thaksin’s residence prior to the election of a new prime minister for Srettha Thavisin and the government’s policy speech to congress, which is said to be an adaptation of Thaksin’s perspective presented at a forum.

The requests were lodged by the Thai Pakdee Party, the Palang Pracharath Party, Noppharut Worachitwutthikun, a former essential president of the political party Phirap Khao 2006, and an anonymous person.

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NHSO asked to deal with overwhelming cancer patient surge

A doctor screens a patient for bile duct cancer. (File photo)
A doctor examines a client for bile duct cancers. ( File photo )

The National Health Security Office ( NHSO ) has been inundated with cancer patients, and Srinagarind Hospital has urged the organization to take action to combat the influx of patients who seek treatment under the Cancer Treatment Anywhere ( Ca ) program, which has resulted in an 830 % increase in demand.

Dr. Somsak Tiamkao, the hospital’s chairman, reported on Tuesday that the hospital’s service was overburdened by the rise in cancer patients referred by the hospital as part of the NHSO’s CA program. This has overstretched the patient’s tools and labor, he noted. &nbsp,

Cancer patients at Srinagarind Hospital have increased by 830 % since the program recommendations started.

The doctor also serves as a medical student teaching ability. However, the wave in cancer sufferers has posed key difficulties, especially in terms of personnel, and the patient’s ability to teach medical students and provide general services.

The doctor just don’t grow its pillows, doctors, nurses or medical personnel, which threatens to compromise its health standards.

Dr. Somsak noted that one dentist may have finished their patient treatment in the morning and then move on to instructing or conducting research. Doctors are now preoccupied up until late at night because of the extreme task.

We need to engage in serious conversation with the NHSO.

The program must adhere to the NHSO’s clear instructions and techniques. We are never refusing cure, but we want cancer treatment to become standardised across all institutions, “he said, adding all clinics have the knowledge to provide such treatment.

Instead of letting the condition escalate like a “broken bridge,” he said,” The NHSO needs to discuss, talk, and help solve these issues.”

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