Police arrested a public works official of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on Monday morning for allegedly demanding a nine-million-baht bribe in exchange for diverting a planned new road away from a golf course.
The Central Investigation Bureau said the official was arrested at his house in Nonthaburi province and his luxury cars and five Harley-Davidson motorcycles were impounded for examination.
Sources said the arrest was a part of a series of 6am raids at five locations - in Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces.
The public works official and accomplices had allegedly demanded nine million baht to divert a road project involving Liab Waree Road to spare Windsor Park & Golf Club in Nong Chok district, sources said.
Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Parnkaew, deputy commissioner of the CIB, led the raid on the official's house in Nonthaburi.
Police identified the suspect only as Mr Peempong, a senior civil engineer with the BMA's Public Works Department.
According to Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat, Mr Peempong was the leader of a gang of four.
Mr Peempong has denied the charges, claiming he was just a land broker.
He also refused to cooperate during the search, locking his computer to prevent the authorities from further inspection, said the sources.
Mr Peempong's three accomplices, including his wife, were subsequently arrested.
Meanwhile, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the BMA has worked with police to launch an investigation into the alleged corruption since receiving information about the matter last year.
Mr Chadchart said the offenders will face disciplinary punishment.
According to the Bangkok governor, there are five other cases involving corruption in the BMA that the authorities are investigating.
He then urged the public to inform the authorities about corruption via the ACD and Traffy Fondue app.