Thai police impounded three luxury houses, a penthouse and ten luxury cars today (Tuesday), with a combined value of over 400 million baht, which are believed to belong to a group of Chinese businessmen allegedly involved in “grey” businesses in Thailand.
According to Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, the deputy national police chief, Thai police seized the houses in a housing estate in Soi La Salle in Bangkok’s Bang Na area, after it was discovered that they were bought by a Thai company, the majority of shares in which are believed to be in the names of Thai nominees. Ten luxury cars, found at the three houses,were also impounded.
Separately, another team of police went to a high-end condominium building on Charoen Nakhon Road and impounded a penthouse unit, worth about 100 million baht, believed to be linked to the same group of Chinese businessmen. About three million baht in Thai and Chinese currency were also found in the penthouse.
Pol Gen Torsak said that the Chinese businessmen operated a comprehensive tourism-related business, which includes arranging package tours to Thailand for wealthy Chinese tourists, providing bus services to take them to entertainment venues and gambling dens.
He said that police and officials from the Narcotics Control Board will travel to Hua Hin to seize a private jet, allegedly belonging to Chaiyanat Kornchayanant, aka “Tohao”, a Chinese businessman linked to “grey” businesses.
Chaiyanat is suspected of being the key man in the Chinese business ring, allegedly involved in operations, mainly in Bangkok. He is currently being held on remand on drug trafficking charges.
Chaiyanat, who has lived in Thailand for more than 20 years and has a Thai wife, is said to have cultivated close connections with some Thai politicians. He donated about 3 million baht to Palang Pracharath, the core coalition party.
