A civil court has granted an injunction to freeze more than 65 million baht in a stock trading account and real estate belonging to a golf caddie, one of the suspects in the alleged share fraud involving late tycoon Chuwong Saetang.
Kanthana Siwathanapol's stocks -- 5,759,000 shares of Energy Absolute Plc and 10 million shares of Wyncoast Industrial Park Plc -- were frozen, according to the Southern Bangkok Civil Court. The order took effect on Friday.
Mr Chuwong was killed in a car crash in which former commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn was the driver on June 26 last year. Mr Banyin has been charged with the premeditated murder of Chuwong.
Police suspected foul play when it turned out that the businessman's shares, valued at 260 million baht, were transferred to Ms Kanthana, and Srithana Promma -- the mother of Uracha Wachirakulton, a former broker, who was looking after Chuwong's stock trading account.
Pol Lt Col Banyin, together with the three women, is facing charges of stealing Chuwong's shares.
The injunction order was sought by Chuwong's widow Sirirat Saetang, 50, and their 23-year-old son, Kan -- both serving as executors of the tycoon's estate.
This came as the pair petitioned the Southern Bangkok Civil Court several months ago, demanding the return of 228 million baht from 9.5 million shares belonging to Chuwong, plus interest of 7.5% per year, from Ms Kanthana, Pol Lt Col Banyin, a stock brokerage firm and two employees of the firm.
Anek Kamchum, a lawyer for Chuwong's family, said this is a civil case to call for the return of Chuwong's assets believed to have been unscrupulously transferred.
The family is waiting for the court to set a trial date after the injunction has been granted, he said.
The court said on Friday that Chuwong's family found he had transferred his shares from his stock trading account to Ms Kanthana before he died.
After receiving the tycoon's stocks, Ms Kanthana resold 3,741,000 Energy Absolute shares while keeping the remaining 5,759,000 shares. The court said the plaintiffs' petition carries sufficient weight to issue the injunction.
