The first auction of assets seized from the criminal network of former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat Chayapan kicked off yesterday with sales exceeding 130 million baht.
A total of 250 items confiscated from the Pongpat network went under the hammer at the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok yesterday.
The sale was supervised by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo). Amlo secretary-general Pol Col Sihanart Prayoonrat said that on the first day alone, the auction fetched more than 130 million baht, as 1,159 people registered for the auction.
The atmosphere at auctions was charged with excitement with many people queuing up for registration early in the morning.
A sandstone sculpture of the Lord Buddha in the nakprok pose was the first item that went to the block yesterday. The bidding started at 120,000 baht and ended at 270,000 baht, the source said.
Meanwhile, the sale of 21 items, mostly watches, originally set for auction, was put on hold after people claiming to be their owners submitted a petition to Amlo. The alleged owners insisted the items were not linked to any crime. Pol Lt Gen Pongpat faces a range of criminal charges including malfeasance and lese majeste.
The first round of auctions will continue until Sunday, Pol Col Sihanart said, and another round will be held from March 23-26.