The suspected missing link in the 1.4-billion-baht embezzlement scandal at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) has fled to the UK, police say.
Kittisak: Knows about embezzlement 'boss'
Officers discovered Kittisak Muttujud entered the UK on Dec 25 and is still in the country, police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said yesterday.
They will work with the prosecutor to secure his extradition.
With close ties to the KMITL, Mr Kittisak is believed to have access to the mastermind of the embezzlement ring.
Police said Phada Buakaw, the suspect arrested most recently, said he had heard Mr Kittisak and another suspect, Songklod Sriprasong, former manager of the Bank of Ayudhya's Big C Srinakarin branch, referring to the person in question as "the boss".
Mr Phada was arrested at a resort in Pathum Thani's Sam Khok district. A large stash of cash, including US banknotes and a car were seized from him.
He denied any connection to the KMITL scam.
Pol Lt Gen Prawut said Mr Kittisak's arrest would lead to "the boss" being identified. Information obtained by police confirms the person organised the embezzlement, but did not play a major part in carrying out the crime.
News of the embezzlement scandal emerged when KMITL noticed financial irregularities in its accounts between 2012 and 2014.
The institute's management lodged a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in December against Mr Songklod and Amporn Noisamrit, head of KMITL's finance division.
CSD deputy commander Pol Col Nos Sawetlek said investigators will summon Thawil Phuengma, KMITL's former-rector, for another round of questioning.
Police are suspicious about the sources of some of the assets he declared to the National Anti-Corruption Commission when he was rector, the officer said.
Financial transaction details, obtained recently, point to a mastermind behind operations at KMITL, Pol Col Nos said.
He said police have so far summoned 29 people with suspected links to the scandal for questioning.
They were questioned about the money trail, which could establish how prime suspects were involved in the scam.
Some of the suspects said the money they received from Mr Kittisak had come from gambling.
Police investigators will meet representatives of Siam Commercial Bank and the Bank of Ayudhya this week.
Last week, Pol Col Nos revealed most of the missing money was kept in five of KMITL's accounts at Siam Commercial Bank.
Investigators said they were interested to learn about the recruitment process at the Bank of Ayudhya, which should have checked Mr Songklod's background more thoroughly before hiring him.