Police are collecting evidence to obtain warrants for the arrest of more suspects in a bogus lottery investment scheme, a senior Crime Suppression Division (CSD) investigator said on Saturday.
Pol Col Chakrit Sawatdi, a CSD deputy commander, said more people were believed to have colluded with fraud suspect Sawat Saengbangpla, 79, to swindle dozens of people out of at least 400 million baht.
Mr Sawat, an academic and former chairman of the Chulalongkorn University Savings Cooperative, was accused of orchestrating and operating a bogus lottery investment scheme over seven years with estimated damages of 443 million baht.
While they continue to track the main suspect who has gone into hiding, police last week arrested Potchakorn Khonman, 32, in Chiang Mai for alleged involvment in the scam after linking her to money transfers.
Pol Col Chakrit declined to give details about the planned arrest warrants. He also said that authorities believed Mr Sawat was still in the country.
The Criminal Court yesterday approved a police request to detain Ms Potchakorn, also known as Methawat, for another 12 days for questioning. She faces charges of receiving or transferring assets associated with crimes with the intention of concealing their origins, and complicity in money laundering
Criminal suspects can be detained for up to seven 12-day periods, or 84 days, before charges must be formally laid.
Police also asked the court to deny bail out of concern that the suspect might tamper with evidence.
However, Ms Potchakorn did not seek bail and she was taken to the Central Women's Correctional Institution for detention.