Prosecutors object to KCUC petition
Prosecutors yesterday objected to a Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) petition seeking to withdraw an embezzlement lawsuit against former chairman Supachai Srisupa-aksorn who has returned 34 million baht to the cooperative.
The objection was supported by a group of investors affected by the multi-billionbaht fraud. Led by Tammanoon Attachot, the group criticised the cooperative for its decision to withdraw the lawsuit.
KCUC’s decision was prompted by Supachai’s return of 22 million baht plus interest to the cooperative in December last year while the case was pending in the Appeal Court.
The Criminal Court in March last year found the ex-chairman guilty of embezzlement and sentenced him to 16 years in one of several cases connected to the cooperative scandal.
In this case, Supachai, on behalf of the cooperative’s caretaker manager at the time, ordered staff to withdraw money from the company’s bank accounts eight times from April 10-Oct 8, 2013. He then transferred the money into his own accounts and others’, siphoning off, in total, 22.1 million baht.
The Appeal Court asked the Criminal Court to hold a hearing of both parties. The prosecution, KCUC and Supachai’s lawyer Wanchai Bunnag yesterday presented their statements before the Criminal Court which will submit all the evidence to the Appeal Court for a ruling. Mr Wanchai said yesterday he presented evidence the cooperative had received payment of 22 million plus interest from his client. He said as the cooperative got its money back, the embezzlement lawsuit should be withdrawn.
Mr Tammanoon said his group wanted the prosecution to oppose the cooperative’s petition because the defendant has other cases pending against him and still denies the charges. Supachai is also accused of moneylaundering and public fraud in other cases where financial damage is worth billions of baht.
His concern was that if the embezzlement lawsuit is withdrawn, Supachai will be released and may flee. The cooperative should be aware of the damage that may result.