The Bangkok South Criminal Court on Monday issued arrest warrants for former deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn and three women for the alleged theft of hundreds of millions of baht in shares from late billionaire Chuwong Sae Tang.
Apart from Pol Lt Col Banyin, 52, warrants also were handed down for model-cum-caddie Kanthana Siwathanapol, 26; stockbroker Uracha Wachirakulton, 27; and Miss Uracha's mother Srithara Phromma, 52. The two younger women claimed to be Chuwong's mistresses.
Pol Col Banyin and Miss Kanthana were charged with theft, document forgery, the use of forged documents that might cause damage to others, and receiving stolen property.
Miss Kanthana
Miss Uracha was charged with theft, document forgery and the use of forged documents that might cause damage to others. Her mother was charged with theft and receiving stolen property.
Pol Maj Gen Akaradej Pimolsri, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said Monday that investigators had enough evidence to back the warrants and prosecute the suspects.
The CSD also was ready to take over the investigation into the death of Chuwong if murder is suspected, he said.
Assistant police chief Prawut Thavornsiri said the transaction forms and copies of Chuwong's identification originally had been used to mortgage his stocks to raise funds for additional investments. However, the documents were later tampered with so that the shares were transferred to persons who were not his relatives.
Pol Lt Gen Prawut also said that there were many more irregularities that could not be revealed at this stage.
Miss Uracha
Chuwong, 50, the owner of major construction firm Standard Performance, was found dead in the front passenger seat of a Lexus sport utility vehicle that collided with a roadside tree in Prawet district, Bangkok, on June 26.
Pol Lt Col Banyin Tangpakorn was the driver. The two men first met during a course at the National Defence College several years ago.
Chuwong's family questioned the transfers of Chuwong's shares worth altogether more than 260 million baht to two women on June 8 and 22.
Most of the shares worth about 228 million baht went to Miss Kanthana, who claimed to be eight months pregnant with his child. The rest of the shares went to an account of Miss Srithara's that her daughter allegedly used. Both young women reportedly knew Pol Lt Col Banyin.
Pol Lt Col Banyin said by telephone Monday that he would appear at CSD headquarters at 10am Tuesday.
Miss Kanthana's lawyer, Seksan Senachoo, said he could not contact his client, who is due imminently, but he would have her surrender.