13-3-2024 (BANGKOK) Warrants for the arrest of three police officers and a civilian have been approved, while a summons has been issued for a high-ranking police officer, all in relation to allegations of money laundering linked to an illegal online gambling network.
Pol Maj Gen Thinnakorn Rangmat, the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, confirmed on Tuesday that the senior police officer summoned holds the rank of a general, refraining from disclosing the identities of the suspects.
According to a source familiar with the investigation, the warrants were sought following the uncovering of financial ties between the five individuals and an illicit online gambling platform known as BNKMaster, which was dismantled last year.
The source revealed that investigators traced money transfers to a close associate of a senior police officer, who now faces charges of money laundering.
Upon reviewing the request presented by Pol Maj Gen Thinnakorn, the Criminal Court granted approval for the arrest warrants for the four suspects and issued a summons for the high-ranking officer due to his senior position, as per the source.
A legal team representing deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, known as “Big Joke”, refuted claims that the court had summoned Pol Gen Surachate for questioning on Tuesday.
While acknowledging that police had sought an arrest warrant for Pol Gen Surachate, the lawyers stated that insufficient evidence hindered the issuance of such a warrant.
