The Metropolitan Police took the Thai wife of Chinese businessman Chaiyanat Kornchayanant, aka “Tuhao”, into custody yesterday (Saturday), on charges of money laundering.
Another Thai woman, “Patcharin”, who is suspected of being Kornchayanant’s business partner, was also taken into custody in connection with “grey” businesses, allegedly involving drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational criminal activities.
Police apprehended Kornchayanant’s wife, who is a police officer, and his business partner after the Bangkok South Criminal Court issued warrants for their arrests, based on a request from Yan Nawa police.
Pol Maj-Gen Thiradet Thammasutee, chief of the Investigation Division of Metropolitan Police Bureau, claimed that police had obtained sufficient evidence to implicate the two women for alleged involvement in criminal activities linked with Kornchayanant’s businesses.
The two suspects are being held at Yan Nawa police station for questioning.
Eight suspects have, to date, been held in police custody, with seven more under police investigation, said Thiradet.
Kornchayanant is currently being held in the Central Corrections Institute for Drug Addicts. He is rumoured to have close connections with a former heavyweight figure in the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. He reportedly donated about three million baht to the party.
