The former chief executive of the Railway Club Cooperative and eight committee members have been arrested for alleged collusion in the embezzlement of 2.8 billion baht of members' funds.
More than 10 million baht in cash along with luxury cars, watches and other assets have also been seized from them.
The nine suspects are the former executive and head of the Railway Club Cooperative Boonsong Hongthong, 70; Ms Pimpa Rodrassamee, 49; Ms Orchanok Sa-ngadsap, 31, Weerachai Srisawat, 59; Ms Surat Srisawat, 69; Mr Prapat Srisawat, 37, Mr Supakit On-aree, 44; Mr Preecha Thanapairin, 63, and Ms Natyanit Mahachot, 40.
They were apprehend separately during raids at 26 locations in Bangkok, Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi on Thursday, Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pol Lt Gen Torsak Sukwimol said at a media briefing on Friday.
CIB officers and officials from the Department of Special Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) had seized many assets from the suspects, he said.
These included more than 10 million baht in cash, luxury cars, watches and brand-name goods. The nine were charged with colluding in theft, falsifying documents and using them and laundering money. (continues below)
Cash totalling more than 10 million baht and other valuables seized from the suspects. (Photo supplied)
CIB investigators charge that Mr Boonsong and his accomplices on the committee of the cooperative had approved loans without calling meetings and following proper procedures. Total damage amounted to more than 2.8 billion baht of members' funds.
The CIB launched the investigation on June 30 last year.
CIB officers working closely with Amlo officials found that loans had been given to Alibaba Living House resort, Alibaba Living House 2 hotel, Boonsita housing estate and Am Ranch land property project, and used to buy luxury cars and other valuables, Pol Lt Gen Torsak said.
The investigators then sought warrants from the South Bangkok Criminal Court for the arrest of Mr Boonsong and the eight other suspects.
Pol Maj Gen Amnat Traipoj, the railway police commander, said loan approvals were made between Jan 13, 2012 and Nov 16, 2016.
The suspects had allegedly colluded in approving loans themselves without calling a meeting of cooperative members. Each suspect allegedly took about 15 million baht from the cooperative for personal use per loan application, and falsified documents.
Pol Maj Gen Panya Pinsuk, deputy CIB chief, said some suspects admitted to having taken money from the cooperative to invest in businesses after they discovered the cooperative could not make a profit or pay dividends to its members.
He said said the cooperative had about 2,300 members and their actions caused damage worth over 2.8 billion baht. They also caused damage to 15 other cooperatives which were linked to the Railway Club Cooperative, he said.
The nine suspects had applied for release on bail, offering 2 million baht as surety, he said.
INN news agency later reported that police had granted bail to all nine suspects. The report said committee member Mr Prapat was arrested at a coffee shop in Phetchabun, while the others turned themselves in to police.