Half-sister of ‘Ying Kai’ arrested on fraud charge
A half-sister of Monta “Ying Kai” Yokrattanakan, the high-profile businesswomen accused of trafficking, has been arrested in Nakhon Sawan for fraud and falsifying documents which could result in lese majeste charges.
Police yesterday took Kamonthat Thana-thornkhositjira, 62, who has already served time in prison for fraud, to a condominium building on Lat Phrao Soi 60 in Bangkok.
There they searched three luxury apartments for evidence related to lese majeste offences. Officers from the Crime Suppression and Technology Crime Suppression divisions were involved in the search.
Ms Kamonthat, who is also known as Kim-eng Sae Tia or Tum, is accused of invoking the royal institution in a fund-raising scheme that swindled more than three million baht from victims.
The Criminal Court on Aug 11 issued a warrant for her arrest on charges of colluding to commit fraud and falsifying documents. She was reported to have been apprehended in Nakhon Sawan on Friday.
The search of her Lat Phrao rooms found many valuable items including antique porcelain, ivory tusks, swords, statues and amulets. Documents and some valuable items, including commemorative coins bearing royal emblems were also found.
Ms Kamonthat, a resident of Samut Prakan, also goes by the name Duangruethai Thanathornkhositjira and has changed her name many times, say reports.
She is the half-sister of “Ying Kai”, who is currently in a remand prison on charges of lodging false complaints, human trafficking, defamation and lese majeste.
Ms Monta, 56, attracted widespread media attention earlier this year after her former housekeepers accused her of lodging false theft complaints against them. The accusations were believed to have been made in retaliation for the women’s refusal to accept Ms Monta’s offers of highly paid employment, said to be related to prostitution.
Yesterday, Central Investigation Bureau chief Thitirat Nongharnphithak said police managed to trace Ms Kamonthat during the course of the investigation into Ms Monta.
A person met the police after hearing about Ms Monta’s investigation and claimed to be a victim of a fraud scheme orchestrated by Ms Kamonthat. The person alleged Ms Kamonthat had conned her into donating money for a merit-making tribute for the royal institution.
Police later found Ms Kamonthat had previously spent six years in Ayutthaya Prison for deceiving people by claiming she could secure them royal decorations.
After serving her time, she changed her name from Kim-eng Sae Tia to Kamonthat.
After her release from jail, Ms Kamonthat said that she had a close association with palace insiders and was actively involved in projects promoting the royal institution.
CIB deputy chief Sommai Kongwisaisuk said Ms Kamonthat has admitted to fraud and faking documents. Police are looking to press additional charges of breaching Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law.