The probe into the signatures on documents linked to King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang's (KMITL) 1.58-billion-baht embezzlement scandal will be wrapped up within 10 days, the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) says.
CSD deputy chief Nos Sawetlek, who heads the investigation, said on Wednesday the documents bearing signatures of those involved have been forwarded to forensic teams for examination.
The checks should take no more than 10 days, he said.
The teams will check whether documents bearing the signatures of seven or eight representatives of KMITL and Siam Commercial Bank are authentic, Pol Col Nos said.
Police are aiming to have the probe wrapped up and sent to prosecutors before suspects have to be released from custody, he said.
The fire at the Siam Commercial Bank complex on Saturday night will not affect the probe because investigators had obtained everything they needed from the bank before the fire broke out. There were fears the blaze may have damaged some evidence related to the case, as bundles of documents stored on the floor where the fire broke out were destroyed in the blaze.
Earlier this week, SCB executive committee chairman, Vichit Surapongchai, said the documents stored on the 10th floor of Building A, which was hit by the blaze, were not relevant to the KMITL case, after the university said the bank had been less than forthcoming in offering up documents related to the probe.
Pol Col Nos said police are now working with the International Affairs Department of the Office of the Attorney-General to track down prime suspect Kittisak Muttujad, who is believed to be overseas.
Between 2013 and 2014, cashier's cheques worth millions of baht were deposited into accounts belonging to Mr Kittisak and another suspect, Poonsak Boonsawat, said Chamroon Laosinwattana, acting deputy rector for legal affairs at the KMITL.