Businessman Prasit Jeawkok, accused of being the leader of a fraudulent investment ring causing more than 1 billion baht in damages, has been denied bail and sent to Bangkok Remand Prison, while the last suspect wanted in the alleged scam has been caught.
Mr Prasit turned himself in to police on Monday to acknowledge charges related to public fraud.
During questioning, Mr Prasit denied all charges. He refused to give any details regarding the investments and alleged transfers of assets during police questioning. He also insisted his businesses were still operating.
Pol Col Thatphum Jaruprat, deputy chief of the Economic Crime Suppression and member of the investigation team, said yesterday that the investigators sought approval from the Criminal Court through a video conference to detain Mr Prasit.
The investigators opposed his bail request, citing the extent of the damage and the possibility of evidence tampering. The court agreed with them and denied the request, where 400,000 baht had been put up as a surety.
On the same day, police arrested Kittisak Yenyanond, the only suspect who remained at large in the case, at a hotel in the Lat Yao area of Chatuchak district. He was taken to the Crime Suppression Division for questioning.
The crackdown on Mr Prasit's businesses has led to speculation over whether police will take action against them since he is a self-proclaimed royalist with extensive connections in many circles.
Pol Maj Gen Jirabhop Bhuridet, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau and head of the investigation team, denied police involvement with Mr Prasit after some photos of high-ranking police officers at a meeting with Mr Prasit were shown on social media.
He explained the photos were taken at a meeting at the Royal Thai Police Office's savings cooperative on Feb 4. A probe later found Mr Prasit's savings cooperative business had been closed and the police cooperative did not invest in any of his businesses, said Pol Maj Gen Jirabhop.