Former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan and four others, one of them a new suspect, in his alleged criminal network are facing an additional warrant on charges of taking bribes from online football gambling businesses.
Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said an investigation found the group had demanded bribes from or were involved in online football gambling businesses operating in the Phaholyothin area during the World Cup in June. The racket was found to have generated more than 100 million baht, he said.
The Criminal Court on Sunday issued warrants for the arrest of five individuals in the Pongpat network including four police officers and one civilian. They are Pol Lt Gen Pongpat, ex-CIB deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Kowit Wongrungroj, Pol Lt Col Songrak Khunsri, ex-deputy chief of the Crime Suppression Division's Sub-Division 6, Pol Col Worapoj Puadpon, ex-chief of the Economic Crime Suppression Division’s Sub-Division 1 and Paitoon Trakarnpruak.
Pol Lt Gen Pongpat and Pol Maj Gen Kowit were arrested last month while the other three are still at large.
Pol Col Worapoj previously served as secretary to Pol Maj Gen Kowit and is a new suspect to the network. The others are facing a number of serious charges ranging from abuse of power, money laundering to lese majeste.