Jet doesn’t belong to ‘triad leader’
ONCB to seize assets ‘if evidence suffices’
The Narcotics Control Board will seize the assets of Chinese businessman Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant if it receives enough evidence from the police that he is the leader of a triad involved in the drug trade, according to the ONCB secretary-general.
Secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkol yesterday denied news that the office has seized a private jet being serviced at the military’s Bo Fai airfield in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
He said despite ex-politician Chuwit Kamolvisit’s claim that the jet belongs to Mr Chaiyanat, ONCB officials found that he is not the owner.
However, the plane will be immediately confiscated by the ONCB if the police found it is linked to Mr Chaiyanat’s alleged criminal activities.
The ONCB is working with the Royal Thai Police to review a list of Mr Chaiyanat’s assets, such as houses, lands, cash, and others, he said.
Police will hand over a report on the matter to the ONCB seven days before any confiscation, he said.
He said that the ONCB, Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and Department of Lands would help assess whether Mr Chaiyanat’s assets were acquired using drug-related businesses.
Mr Chaiyanat was arrested on a warrant issued by the Bangkok South Criminal Court over alleged involvement in the drug trade.
Yannawa police took Mr Chaiyanat to the court on Thursday, where he was denied bail after the court deemed him a flight risk.
Yesterday, Ayuth Sintoppant, director-general of the Department of Corrections, said Mr Chaiyanat is currently under five-day Covid-19 quarantine and will be sent to a buffer zone afterwards.
Mr Ayuth said Mr Chaiyanat has no special privileges in jail and he is only allowed to talk to lawyers via video calls.
Pol Maj Gen Nitinan Petchborom, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said a committee is investigating whether Pol Col Natthapon Kominchart, Metropolitan Police Division 6 commander, is guilty of demanding 8 million baht over a police raid on a Bangkok pub owned by Mr Chaiyanat.
“Police are tracking the financial activities mentioned in Pol Col Natthapon’s testimony,” he said. “We will summon people who are involved for questioning.”