Police, soldiers and Fine Arts Department officials yesterday raided an antique shop linked to the alleged criminal network of former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayaphan and confiscated a large number of items.
An official inspects items in the Sawong Antique shop on Chaeng Watthana Road. The shop is run by Sawong Mungthieng, a suspect in the Pongpat case. Apichit Jinakul
Pol Maj Gen Prasopchok Prommool, commander of the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division, led the raid on the Sawong Antique shop on Chaeng Wattana Road.
The shop, run by Sawong Mungthieng, a suspect in the Pongpat case, does not have a licence to trade in antiques, he said.
He said officials found a large number of cultural items along with 500 planks of wood, wooden furniture and furniture-making tools in storerooms at the back of the shop.
Cdr Parinya Rakvatin: Still being questioned
Sahaphum Phumtarittirat, director of the National Museum, said most objects are thought to be imitations, but officials would check on their provenance.
Meanwhile, Pol Lt Gen Sriwarah Rangsipramanakul, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said investigators are still trying to track down three major Pongpat suspects.
They are Preecha Daratrai, 45, Paichet Methee-ariyapong, 45, and Nopporn Suppipat, 43.
The Phra Khanong Provincial Court has approved warrants for the arrest of Mr Preecha and Mr Paichet, who are accused of conspiring to abduct creditor Wittaya Panyathaweekul to force him to lower a 30-million-baht debt they owed him.
The military court has approved an arrest warrant for Mr Nopporn. He is also accused of hiring a gang allegedly linked to the Pongpat network to kidnap a creditor and force him to reduce a debt from 120 million baht to 20 million baht.
Pol Lt Gen Sriwarah said police are questioning Cdr Parinya Rakvatin, 52, the managing director of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co Ltd, who turned himself in on Dec 5. The former naval officer, also a Pongpat network suspect, faces charges including lese majeste and extortion. The military court yesterday ordered his detention for 12 days for further questioning.