Sakulthorn Juangroongruangkit, younger brother of Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn, reported to the Crime Suppression Division on Thursday to acknowledge a charge of colluding in bribing a Crown Property Bureau official and another man jailed for taking 20 million baht in payments.
Mr Sakulthorn was accompanied by his lawyers when he met CSD investigators around 10.30am on Thursday, in response to a police summons.
Investigators accuse Mr Sakulthorn of colluding with two other men who were earlier sentenced for bribery in a case involving the lease of land owned by the Crown Property Bureau.
Mr Sakulthorn was interrogated for about five hours. Afterwards, he spoke briefly to reporters, denying he had done anything wrong.
He said there was nothing to explain. He had done the right thing to help the state.
Mr Sakulthorn said he had nothing to do with the two men who were convicted and jailed by the court and he had already explained the main objective of the land deal to police. He declined to give the details.
Pol Col Sanphet Noothong, CSD superintendent for investigation, said Mr Sakulthorn denied all charges. His testimony was for the police report and could not be revealed. Mr Sakulthorn would submit a statement in writing within 30 days, Pol Col Sanphet said.
The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconducted cases in November 2019 convicted and jailed Prasit Aphaiphoncharn, a Crown Property Bureau official, and a Surakiat Tangwithoowanich, for taking bribes and forging documents while acting as middlemen in the leasing of the land.
Both were found to have been in contact with Mr Sakulthorn, who is the chief executive of Real Asset Development.
The two men were said to have convinced Mr Sakulthorn they could help him bypass the Crown Property Bureau's land-leasing process in return for a payment of 20 million baht. (continues below)
Sakulthorn Juangroongruangkit talks with his lawyers in the Crime Suppression Division head office investigation room on Thursday. (Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham)
The court found them guilty of fabricating documents to lure Mr Sakulthorn into paying them money. The two men were released from prison in early December last year.
Police investigators allege Mr Sakulthorn is also guilty of the bribery charge, because he had paid the 20-million-baht - a violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Code.
The offence carries a maximumum prison term of five years and/or fine of 100,000 baht.
A police source said investigators would look into whether other executives of Real Asset Development firm were involved or not.