National Police Chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has asserted that the summoning of his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, to acknowledge money laundering charges related to the BNKMaster online gambling website is not indicative of persecution or foul play. He clarified that the issuance of the summons aligns with evidence collected thus far, emphasizing that this marks the first summons for Surachate to report to Thung Song Hong police station on Thursday.
Pol Gen Torsak affirmed that it remains Surachate’s prerogative whether he chooses to comply with the summons. However, he cautioned that failure to do so would prompt the issuance of a second summons, and subsequent non-compliance could lead to an arrest warrant.
The national police chief underscored that the enquiry officers have the authority to issue summonses, as the case under their purview is distinct from the one presently under review by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
In response to a duplicate of the initial summons sent to his office, Pol Gen Torsak stated that it has been forwarded to the legal affairs department of the Royal Thai Police.
Explaining the procedural steps ahead, Torsak outlined that Surachate is obligated to report to the Royal Thai Police in his capacity as a suspect. Subsequently, a fact-finding panel will convene to deliberate on potential disciplinary measures against him.
Meanwhile, Surachate’s legal representative is slated to host a press conference on Tuesday, with reports suggesting intentions to unveil the financial trail of the BNKMaster online gambling website and individuals profiting from its operations.
