Bangkok: Pol. Lt. Col. Noppasin, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, announced that the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has filed a complaint against a former senior police officer for alleged money laundering activities uncovered during an investigation.
According to Thai News Agency, the case originated from an investigation by Thung Maha Mek Metropolitan Police Station into crimes related to online gambling. The financial trail led investigators to identify individuals involved in these criminal activities. Pol. Lt. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat, serving both as deputy commissioner and spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Bureau, disclosed that Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom had uncovered that AMLO had filed a complaint against Pol. Gen. Surachet, also known as Surachet Hakpal, and Ms. Sirinadda Hakpal at Bang Rak Police Station.
The investigation revealed that life insurance policies belonging to Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpal and Ms. Sirinadda were partially paid using funds transferred from bank accounts associated with online gambling websites. These transactions amounted to approximately 1.7 million baht. This prompted the AMLO to submit the matter to the Transaction Committee, seeking the temporary seizure of the implicated life insurance premiums.
In April, Pol. Gen. Surachet and Ms. Sirinadda surrendered all eight life insurance policies, subsequently transferring and withdrawing the funds as cash. This action was deemed an attempt to conceal the source of the assets, related to the criminal activities, or to mitigate potential punishment. As a result, AMLO charged both individuals with money laundering.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the authorities have stated that should further individuals be found involved in money laundering offenses, legal proceedings will be initiated against them as per the law.