More triad-gang details emerge

More triad-gang details emerge

Thai nominee used 'to buy B400m plots'

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, centre, and his team discuss with officials from other agencies on Wednesday the search of a private jet at Hua Hin airport for evidence related to suspected triad leader Chaiyanat 'Tuhao' Kornchayanant. (Police photo)
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, centre, and his team discuss with officials from other agencies on Wednesday the search of a private jet at Hua Hin airport for evidence related to suspected triad leader Chaiyanat 'Tuhao' Kornchayanant. (Police photo)

The Chinese criminal syndicate linked to businessman Chaiyanat "Tuhao" Kornchayanant had in 2020 purchased plots of land worth more than 400 million baht through a Thai nominee, according to former politician and massage parlour tycoon Chuvit Kamolvisit.

Citing information allegedly given to him by a former close associate of Tuhao, Mr Chuvit said the acquisition of the plots, known altogether as "Divalux Spa", was made through a woman identified only by her first name, Pacharin.

Mr Chuvit insisted he had in hand evidence of several transactions between Tuhao and the woman, each of them worth between 3 million baht and 5 million baht, adding that if Tuhao had nothing to hide, he would have no need to use a nominee in the land purchase deal.

Tuhao, an alleged leader of the Chinese crime syndicate, is currently under investigation over his links to the drug trade after he turned himself in last week when an arrest warrant was issued for him.

Mr Chuvit said he has also secured information about the Chinese gang's acquisition of a Thai-language school used to secure student visas for many Chinese nationals the gang helped to gain entry to Thailand previously.

Mr Chuvit said he has a picture of Lhin Lhong, a former adviser to an association of Thai merchants, taken with some Thai civil servants, as well as a picture of the same Chinese man dressed in a military-like uniform, which he purportedly used to support his claims of having connections with Thai authorities to convince influential Chinese gangs to support him in setting up a new criminal network.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr Chuvit showed a photo of a large house built in a valley in an unidentified province, saying the money used to fund its construction came from funds provided by an overseas drug suppression agency intended to battle drug problems in Thailand.

Mr Chuvit said someone had sought his help and vowed to serve as a witness after he broke away from Tuhao over a financial conflict.

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