Police have asked the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) to examine the assets of Manoon Chaichana, who is wanted on an arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a recent grenade attack at the Criminal Court.
Royal Thai Police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri, who also serves as an assistant to the police chief said Amlo is following the money trails of suspects linked to the March 7 attack and are examining the assets of Mr Manoon to assess whether they need freezing.
Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Sriwara Rangsiphramanakul, reaffirmed that payments to the attackers behind the grenade attack came from Mr Manoon. He said there was documentary evidence.
He refused to say whether a kingpin gave the money to Mr Manoon to pass it on, saying there was no evidence proving this.
Mr Manoon is alleged to have bankrolled the court attack, and is said to have transferred money to Wassana Busdee.
She is one of five suspects against whom the Military Court issued arrest warrants on Saturday night over their alleged roles in the RDG-5 grenade attack at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road.
Ms Wassana allegedly received money from Mr Manoon to be passed on to Supaporn Mitarak to hire the attackers.
The five suspects are Mr Manoon, Ms Wassana, Ms Supaporn, Norapat Lueapol and Jessadapong Wattanapornchaisiri.
They are accused of terrorism, forming a gang for illegal activities, attempted murder, launching a bomb attack, illegal possession of a weapon and illegal possession of military armaments.
They are among 14 suspects connected to the court attack.
Twelve are in custody, while Mr Manoon and Weerasak Towangjorn — also known as Yai Pattaya, and who is believed to have supplied the grenade for the attack — are still on the run.
Mr Manoon also faces lese majeste charges for having allegedly insulted the monarchy in video clips since 2010.
Pol Lt Gen Prawut said police have sought Interpol's assistance in tracking down Mr Manoon who is believed to be living abroad.