Police continue tracking money trail of Bt12 million left in garbage dump

Almost two weeks after Bt12 million in cash was found in a plastic box, abandoned on a Nonthaburi condominium garbage dump earlier this month, police are still trying to determine where the money came from.

One thing police have confirmed, though, is that Thaweesak Suankaew, a lawyer, is the rightful owner.

Thaweesak surprised police and the public by claiming that he forgot that he had placed the money in a box in his room. When the room was flooded, due to a pipe leak, he cleared it out and accidentally discarded the box.

He said that the money came from his legal practice.

Pol Lt Gen Surapon Prembutr, the provincial police commander, said that at least five agencies, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Central Investigation Bureau, have joined the investigation.

Surapon said that, so far, the investigation shows that Thaweesak was not involved in any online gambling.

Police are now awaiting information from a Kasikornbank branch, as part of the money was traced to a deposit made to a bank account in 2020, Surapon added.

Authorities from all agencies involved will meet tomorrow, to compare findings and to discuss the case. Thaweesak will be invited to provide additional information, he said.