Three men detained last week on lese majeste charges allegedly committed 13 offences, in most cases making false claims involving the monarchy to make 5.9 million baht in personal gain, police said Wednesday.
The allegations were aired at a Royal Thai Police news conference. Senior officers, including national chief Chakthip Chaijinda, said the National Council for Peace and Order had found that well-known fortune teller Suriyan "Mor Yong" Sucharitpolwong, his aide Jirawong Watthanathewasilp and Pol Maj Prakrom Warunprapa claimed they were close to the royal institution and exploited two royally sponsored cycling events for their own benefit.
The military arrested the three and police interrogated them to catalogue their alleged crimes, including Mr Suriyan's involvement with the Bike for Mom and Bike for Dad royally sponsored cycling events.
Pol Maj Prakrom was found hanged in his cell at a detention facility attached to the 11th Army Circle on Friday night, reports said.
According to Pol Maj Gen Chayapol Chatchaidej, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 6, Mr Suriyan, 53, Mr Jirawong, 29, and Pol Maj Prakrom, 44, had claimed they represented a member of the royal institution and had been commissioned to create commemorative pins for the two biking events.
Pol Maj Prakrom, an inspector at the Technology Crime Suppression Division, and unidentified accomplices were accused of citing the monarchy to demand 4.7 million baht in personal kickbacks in exchange for contracts to supply the pins from a Bangkok company between Aug 24 and Oct 18.
As evidence of the trio's alleged extortion, police at the news conference showed off valuables including a large number of guns, luxury watches, expensive bags, ceramic dolls, Buddha images and gems.
A chart explaining the alleged offences of fortune teller Mor Yong's gang is raised at the Royal Thai Police Office on Wednesday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Police said Mr Suriyan and his accomplices also cited the royal institution to demand special phone numbers from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.
In addition, Pol Maj Prakrom was accused of illegally possessing weapons and operating radio-communication facilities at his condominium on Phahon Yothin Road in Bangkok, and on the 84th floor of Thailand's tallest Baiyoke Tower II in Ratchathewi district of Bangkok. Samart Telcoms Plc was involved in the installation at the skyscraper.
Police also found that the trio demanded 300,000 baht from another company in Bangkok.
Mr Suriyan and his aide cited royalty with similar intentions four other times with companies in Ayutthaya, Bangkok and Samut Prakan, demanding a total 900,000 baht in exchange for product-supply contracts in June.
Assistant police chief Pol Lt Gen Srivara Rangsiprammanakul said investigators were collecting evidence and would seek warrants for the arrest of more suspects.
Pol Lt Gen Thitirat Nonghanpitak, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said Mr Suriyan tried to hide his money with close relatives and laundered it into assets difficult to trace.
Police chief Chakthip also said that a lot of the valuables shown at the press conference were seized from Pol Maj Prakrom. They came from former CIB chief Pongpat Chayapan, who was prosecuted and imprisoned for lese majeste and bribery.
Addressing speculation that former police spokesman Pol Gen Prawut Thavornsiri was implicated in the offences being pursued against the fortune teller and his accomplices, Pol Gen Chakthip said the investigation had so far found no connection to the police general, who currently is on leave.