BANGKOK — A top Thai police officer and six colleagues have been arrested on charges ranging from bribery to insulting the monarchy, and police said Tuesday that they are investigating more suspects in the case.
National Police Chief Somyot Pumpanmuang said at a news conference that the former Central Investigation Bureau chief, Lieutenant General Pongpat Chayapan, had confessed to all charges, including soliciting bribes for job appointments and allowing illegal gambling and oil smuggling.
Somyot said a search of buildings belonging to the suspects arrested Sunday had turned up assets worth up to $305 million.
He said the actual value was hard to assess because in addition to cash, gold, and land deeds, the items found also included valuable Buddhist amulets and antiques.
The suspects are alleged to have invoked claims of links to the royal palace in carrying out their alleged wrongdoing, but Somyot declined to elaborate on the charges of lese majeste — insulting the
monarchy — which carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.