The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has, to date, seized assets worth about 320 million baht from the iCon Group direct marketing company and its executives.
AMLO spokesman, Wittaya Nititham, said today that most of the seized assets are bank deposits accumulated from the trading of stocks and other cash deposits, adding the Department of Special Investigation is in charge of examining and impounding assets, suspected of being earned illegally, before they are transferred to AMLO for safe keeping.
Regarding assets belonging to other people, he said that they cannot be impounded or confiscated by the authorities pending the outcome of the investigation, as he offered an assurance that all ill-gotten assets will be seized wherever they are.
He that there are difficulties in seizing the assets, because the alleged offences had been going on for several years before they were recently exposed, but he promised AMLO would do its best.
Regarding donations given to temples by the iCon Group, Wittaya said the temples can defend accepting them because they were not aware that the donations were ill-gotten gains and they received them in good faith.
Meanwhile, in the Mae Mont online gambling case, the Department of Special Investigation has, so far, seized assets worth about 300 million baht, mostly in gold ornaments, gold bars and land title deeds.
About 20 suspects are in custody.
