1-3-2024 (BANGKOK) The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has announced that it will charge prominent property tycoon Anant Asavabhokhin with money laundering in connection to the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) fund embezzlement scandal, according to a source within the OAG.
Attorney-General Amnat Jedcharoenruk approved the indictment on February 16, and it is expected to be executed by the OAG’s special litigation office on April 2, stated the source.
On that day, Mr. Anant, former chairman of Land and Houses Plc, will be required to report to prosecutors, added the source.
While awaiting the OAG’s decision on his indictment, Mr. Anant has been mandated to report to prosecutors every three months, the source informed.
The case had remained dormant for several years until this recent revelation.
In 2019, Wongsakul Kittipromwong, a former attorney-general who was then the director-general of the OAG’s special litigation office, returned the case to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), recommending against further pursuit of the case in court.
The DSI subsequently appealed against Mr. Wongsakul’s decision, and for four years, the OAG did not reach a new verdict on the appeal, during which time three different attorney-generals assumed the post, revealed the source.
According to the source, the money laundering case revolves around three land plots in Tambon Klong 2 of Klong Luang district in Pathum Thani, totaling approximately 312 rai, and shares in M-Home SPV 2 Co, which were acquired by Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, the former chairman of KCUC, for 321.4 million baht.
The investigation carried out by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found that Mr. Supachai, M-Home SPV 2 Co, and other parties entered into a contract to sell one of the three plots, bearing the title deeds No.31344 and covering an area of about 46 rai, to Mr. Anant for 93.78 million baht.
Subsequently, according to the NACC, Mr. Anant signed a letter of intent to donate the acquired land to Phra Thep Yanamahamuni, also known as Chaiyabul Dhammajayo, the former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Following this, the land in question was later sold by Mr. Anant to Thai Agro Exchange Co on June 25, 2015, for 492.35 million baht, as per the NACC’s findings.
Out of the proceeds of 492.35 million baht, 468.73 million baht was subsequently paid to M-Home SPV 2 Co, which then donated approximately 303 million baht to a foundation called Ubasika Chan Khon Nok Yung Thong, associated with Wat Phra Dhammakaya, revealed the NACC.
