A senior official at the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) yesterday filed a defamation complaint against activist Atchariya Reuangrattanapong, who is accused of being involved in a 6-million-baht bribe.
Amlo deputy secretary-general Pol Maj Gen Ekarak Limsangkat lodged the complaint at Phahonyothin Police Station in response to Mr Atchariya, who had asked the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) to launch an investigation into him and a police lieutenant general for alleged money laundering.
Mr Atchariya, chairman of the Help Crime Victims Club, alleged that Pol Maj Gen Ekarak was involved with the 6 million baht that former massage parlour tycoon Chuvit Kamolvisit accepted earlier from an associate of the officer known as "Inspector Sua".
Inspector Sua, or Pol Lt Col Wasawat Makurasakul, has since been suspended for frequent absenteeism from his post at the Office of Logistics of the Royal Thai Police. He is also being investigated in connection with a huge illegal online gambling network.
Pol Maj Gen Ekarak yesterday denied any involvement, saying Mr Atchariya gave false information to the public and damaged his reputation. He said he did not personally know Inspector Sua and did not take the bribe money to Mr Chuvit as alleged.
The Amlo deputy secretary-general also denied that his wife was involved in illegal gambling networks, following Mr Atchariya's claim that money from gambling websites was transferred to the woman's accounts.
Pol Maj Gen Ekarak said he would seek 10 million baht in compensation from Mr Atchariaya, who he also accused of violating the Personal Data Protection Act. The Amlo official said he is considering filing a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sittra Biabangkerd, who first brought the alleged bribe to the public's attention.
Mr Chuvit admitted accepting the money after Mr Sittra posted photos of two bags containing bundles of 1,000-baht notes on his Facebook page with phrases like "expose and extort" attached to them. But Mr Chuvit said he donated all the money to Siriraj Hospital and Thammasat University Hospital, sparking concerns about money laundering.
