The former grand chamberlain of the Royal Household Bureau, who is facing charges of lese majeste, was taken by Thong Lor police to re-enact his crimes at two locations in Bangkok yesterday, police said.
Pol Lt Gen Sriwara Rangsiprammanakul, the metropolitan police chief, said Montri Sotangkur, who once worked for the former princess Srirasm, was escorted to the Taweewan Building on Sukhumvit, Soi 33, where he allegedly received a real estate commission of 2.5 million baht.
The suspect was then escorted to a Bangkok Bank, the Si Phraya Branch in Bangrak district, where 2.6 million baht was allegedly transferred from a land owner to his bank account, police said.
Mr Montri used his close connection with the former princess to broker the land purchasing deal in Phetchaburi’s Cha-am district, according to police.
He is also accused of exploiting his royal connection to demand seats on the board of directors of CAT Telecom Plc and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) in 2011.
The suspect met with former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan in September 2011 and allegedly spoke of his association with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and the former princess.
Mr Montri was later appointed to the board of PTT.
In the same month, Mr Montri met former information and communication technology minister Anudith Nakornthap and allegedly used the same method to ask for a seat on the CAT board.
The charge of lese majeste stems from Mr Montri using his royal connection for his own good which is considered an act of defamation and an insult to the monarchy, a police statement to the court said.
On Friday, Mr Montri was taken to re-enact the alleged crime at the Energy Ministry and the Information and Communication Technology Ministry.
Pol Lt Gen Sriwara said investigators are now trying to determine if more suspects were involved.
The investigators will question Mr Montri to find out if he worked alone or not, he added. Mr Montri was reportedly taken to a provincial police station for further questioning after the re-enactments.