Police hunt billionaire in police scandal (updated)

03 ธันวาคม 2557

A businessman ranked as one of Thailand's richest men is wanted by police on a number of charges, including lese majeste, in connection with the case against the former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat Chayapan. Latest information indicates he may have fled to Cambodia.

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Nopporn Suppipat was profiled in an Asia Focus feature in the Bangkok Post less than a month ago. From what he told reporter Nirermol Singhsachakul, police may not have an easy time catching up with him: "I don't plan to stay in one place. ... I'll probably spend a couple of months a year in Thailand and that's it. I'm a citizen of the world. I'll be spending most of my time in the south of France and London." PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

Thursday morning update from our Post reporters

Billionaire may have fled to Cambodia

Pol Lt Gen Sriwara said police had information that Nopporn Suppipat entered Cambodia about 5am on Monday through the Phak Kad border checkpoint in Chanthaburi's Pong Namron district and intended to flee to a third country.

Police said the information they had was credible, but did not elaborate.

Three investigation teams have been set up to hunt Mr Nopporn, who is ranked 31st on this year's list of the country's 50 billionaires by Forbes magazine, the city police chief said.

Airports of Thailand (AoT) acting president Nirand Theeranartsin said Mr Nopporn had attempted to seek permission for his personal jet to leave Don Mueang airport soon after his arrest warrant was issued.

The request was rejected because people wanted on arrest warrants are not permitted by the AoT to leave the country by plane, Mr Nirand said.

Wednesday's story

Billionaire wanted in ex-CIB boss case

Nopporn allegedly involved in kidnap

POST REPORTERS

A businessman ranked as one of Thailand's richest men is wanted by police on a number of charges, including lese majeste, in connection with the case against the former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat Chayapan.

Police believe Nopporn Suppipat, 43, the founder and chairman of the executive committee of Wind Energy Holding Co (WEH), has fled overseas (although reports this morning say he might still be in the country).

Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri, spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, said Tuesday the military court has approved an arrest warrant for Mr Nopporn as requested by police.

Mr Nopporn had been in contact with police in the last few days, but Pol Lt Gen Prawut said police have not been able to trace him since the warrant was issued, leading them to believe he has fled the country.

Mr Nopporn was ranked 31st on the list of the country's 50 billionaires this year by Forbes magazine.

His business, operating wind power plants, is believed to have assets worth more than 25 billion baht.

He holds a majority share of 74.5% in Renewable Energy Corporation, which in turn holds more than a 63% stake in WEH. The firm is set to be listed on the stock market.

Mr Nopporn invested in a failed co-generation power plant business 15 years ago that ended in legal disputes.

During the next decade, he stayed out of the public eye and the business arena. But he suddenly emerged in the middle of 2007 to invest deeply in wind energy and secured a contract to sell electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

The charges he faces include violating the lese majeste law, extortion and intimidation.

The executive allegedly hired Natthanan Thanawech and Chalach Phothirach and three other men to kidnap a businessman to whom he owed money.

Mr Natthanan and Mr Chalach turned themselves in to Metropolitan Police Division 5 officers at a house in Soi Suthipong 4 in Din Daeng district late on Saturday.

The five men were wanted on arrest warrants issued by a court on Friday for citing the monarchy to obtain benefits and money from others, illegally collecting debts, illegally detaining people and extortion.

Police said the group allegedly abducted businessman and creditor Bandit Chotwitthayakul from his condominium in Bangkok's Bang Kholaem district on June 23 and forced him to drastically lower a 120 million baht debt owed by Mr Nopporn to 20 million baht.

Mr Nopporn was to pay the group about 10% of the 100 million baht difference, police said.

Besides Mr Natthanan and Mr Chalach, Witthaya Theskhunthot surrendered to police on Monday.

The other two suspects, who are soldiers, Sgt Nathakorn Yasri and Sgt Thiraphong Chochampi, were escorted by military officers to report to police Tuesday.