An ad hoc fact-finding committee has found sufficient evidence for it to believe that Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief, was allegedly involved in money laundering connected to an online gambling platform and benefited from the illegal activities, according to Pol Gen Winai Thongsong, a member of the committee.
He said yesterday that the committee had planned to give a press conference about the outcome of the probe even before the Criminal Court decided on Tuesday to issue a warrant for the arrest of Surachate.
The committee’s findings regarding Surachate will be submitted to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for consideration, while another related investigation concerning the national police chief, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, is still under way.
The committee, led by Chatchai Promlert, a retired interior ministry permanent secretary, had questioned 10 witnesses, who made allegations against Torsak and Surachate in connection with the BNK Master online gambling platform.
Regarding the allegations against Torsak, Pol Gen Winai said that the committee had invited lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd for questioning next Thursday, about how and where the lawyer had obtained the incriminating evidence against Torsak and his wife.
The lawyer filed a complaint with Taopoon police, accusing the couple of alleged involvement in money laundering related to the online gambling platform.
Both Torsak and Surachate were earlier transferred to “inactive posts” at the PM’s Office, pending the outcome of the investigation into the online gambling case.
