137 million baht of the corrupt police chief’s wealth are seized

On August 10, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NAAC) found Pol Lt Gen Somchai Nitayabowornkul guilty of owning expensive assets beyond his income and position. Lt Gen Somchai’s daughter owned a Mazda 2 and an apartment in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area. The Attorney General’s office forwarded the case to Thailand’s Corruption and Misconduct Court. In southern Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province, the former commissioner accumulated land with a residence in Moo 7 village, tambon Hin Lek Fai in the Hua Hin district, a Chumphon police savings account, and 2 million baht in Chumphon police savings cooperative shares.

The Thai Criminal Court for Corruption seized a fraudster’s 137 million baht fortune. NAAC Secretary-General Niwatchai Kasemmongkol stated Pol Lt Gen Somchai was “unusually wealthy for his position” and that the department had enough evidence to accuse him of amassing a fortune while serving as Provincial Police Region 8’s deputy commissioner. Pol Lt Gen Somchai’s wife owned a house in Moo 7, 10 acres of land in tambon Thap Tai, Hua Hin, 2 acres of land in tambon Thap Tai with a commercial structure, a condo in Bangkok’s Khong San area, and 2 savings accounts with the Chumphon police. He said, “The AG’s office got forensic investigators’ report. Pol Lt Gen Somchai was found guilty of corruption and misconduct on August 10, 2022.

Pol Lt Gen Somchai, his wife Kesinee, and their daughter Panisra were told to turn over their 137 million baht fortune to the Finance Ministry.