Thais jailed in Angola seek PM’s help

Four allegedly part of fraudulent $50bn deal

Relatives of four Thai citizens arrested in the southwest African country of Angola almost six months ago on charges of fraud, money laundering and document falsification have petitioned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to provide them with legal assistance.

The petition was lodged at the Government House Centre for Public Service yesterday by two relatives and Thiwaporn Wannaro, their official representative.

On Feb 21, police in Angola detained three men and a woman — Raveeroj Rithchoteanan and Ms Monthita Pribwai, both authorised directors of Centennial Energy (Thailand) Co, and company employees Theera Buapeng and Manin Wanitcha. They are being held in a prison in Luanda, the Angolan capital, she said.

Ms Thiwaporn said the four travelled to Angola to sign an investment deal with a local firm there.

The joint venture was to enter into a public-private partnership contract with the Angolan government for basic infrastructure and social development schemes.

The four took with them a cheque for US$50 billion for the investment, Ms Thiwaporn said. The money was deposited in an account newly opened with a local bank.

However, the four were later arrested by Angola officials from O Servico de Investicacao Criminal (The Criminal Investigation Service), who accused them of falsifying documents, including cheques and certifications, fraud and money laundering, she said.

Relatives were unable to contact the Angolan authorities as Angola and Thailand have no relations at ambassadorial or consular level.

The relatives were worried about their safety if they remained locked up without outside help and without legal representation, Ms Thiwaporn said.

She has petitioned the prime minister to provide lawyers, interpreters and bail money.

According to its website, Centennial Energy Thailand is a “Bangkok based international multi-billion-dollar project investment and development firm which provides funding for large-scale development and humanitarian projects for developing countries aiming to create high-quality infrastructure, energy generation, transportation networks and so forth”.

The chairman was named as Raveeroj Rithchoteanan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Busadee Santipitaks said yesterday the ministry, via its Protection of Thai Nationals Abroad Division, has been following up on the case since receiving a request from the relatives in February.

Last month Angola Press News Agency published an article stating that the Angolan Attorney-General’s Office had acquitted three state officials in a case involving amounts above US$5 billion (166.4 billion baht) illegally withdrawn from state coffers due to lack of evidence establishing their involvement in the crime.

Five citizens of Angolan nationality, the four Thais, a Canadian and an Eritrean remain as defendants.

The case dates back to the end of November 2017 concerning financing allegedly promised by a Philippine bank to develop investment projects in Angola worth US$50 billion as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Angolan State and Centennial Energy Thailand, the agency reported.

The deal had been signed by the then director of the defunct Technical Unit for Private Investment (UTIP), Norberto Garcia and Mr Raveeroj, in the presence of dozens of Angolan business people and bank officials.

The operation, which was supposed to finance some projects, was aborted by the National Police after the bank denied all knowledge of the project.