Police arrested a key suspect in the 1.5-billion-baht King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang embezzlement scandal after he returned from hiding in the UK.
Businessman Kittisak Matthujad, 30, was picked up by senior police officers at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan early Friday after British authorities notified them that he was flying back on a Thai Airways International flight from London, where he'd been since Christmas.
At a mid-day press conference at the Royal Thai Police Office national police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang said he had sent deputy Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda to England to press British to assist in repatriating Mr Kittisak.
The suspect was brought to the Royal Thai Police Office for interrogation after the plane touched down around 5.45am. The Crime Suppression Division planned further interrogation and would seek longer detention, Pol Gen Somyot said.
Police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang, right, hosts a press conference with Kittisak Matthujad at the Royal Thai Police Office in Bangkok on Friday. (Photo by Kosol Nakachol)
Mr Kittisak is accused to receiving embezzled university funds from Songklod Sriprasong, 40, a former manager at Siam Commercial Bank and Bank of Ayudhya. The ex-manager also transferred money to four friends and a relative of Mr Kittisak, police claim.
Mr Kittisak denied he had embezzled KMITL funds. He said that he knew Mr Songklod, the former bank manager, and had borrowed money from him.
Mr Songklod had transferred money to him repeatedly for three years and each transfer had amounted to 200-300 million baht, Mr Kittisak said.
He had spent the sums on investment projects and overseas football gambling while giving some to his family without knowing if it had been stolen from KMITL, Mr Kittisak said.
Claims disputed
Pol Gen Somyot dismissed Mr Kittisak's version of events, asserting that Mr Kittisak had never made any repayment. The police chief also said his arrest would lead police to other suspects and the final destinations of the stolen money.
Assistant police chief Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri said authorities already have seized 500 million baht in assets from suspects in the case and more would be taken following the arrest of Mr Kittisak.
Pol Col Kornchai Khlailkhlueng, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said that of the 1.5 billion baht in stolen funds, about 1 billion baht had been transferred to Mr Kittisak over several few years.
The KMITL embezzlement reportedly started in 2012 and involved senior officials of the educational institute, including its former rector and former financial director, as well as the former bank manager and several people connected to Mr Kittisak.