Sitta’s lawyer and wife face intense questioning as the embezzlement investigation progresses

BANGKOK: Prominent lawyer Sitta Biabungkerd and his wife Pahitta were moved to an upper floor at the Crime Squad headquarters for further questioning on Friday (Nov 8) morning.

Sitta looked tired, if expressionless, as he glanced at the reporters at the entrance.

The police allowed the media outside the building and did not allow photography.

It is reported that once the questioning is completed, the police will accompany the couple to the Criminal Court to obtain permission to detain them pending further investigation.

Investigators also decided to oppose their provisional release due to concerns about tampering with evidence, the risk of flight and witness intimidation.

Police reportedly searched Sittha Law Firm, located on the 24th floor of a luxury building in Bangkok’s Sathorn district, but did not disclose their findings.

Major General Paul Suwat Sangnum, deputy chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation, said both suspects continue to deny all charges and have provided detailed explanations to deny all charges. At press time, they had been interrogated for 11 hours.

The couple was arrested around noon on Thursday while driving on the road in Chachengsao. Police believe they were heading to Sa Keo to cross the border into Cambodia, although the pair insist they were on their way to a merit ceremony and not trying to escape.

Meanwhile, Sittha’s lawyer Sayut Penbonchu said Sittha was waiting to be arrested on embezzlement charges, but no one came. Suwat replied, “No matter how long he waited, we couldn’t make an arrest without a warrant.”

Police said the search of Sittha’s two residences on Thursday went smoothly and enough evidence was recovered to establish the guilt or innocence of the suspects. Authorities have also frozen accounts linked to funds received from victims, and police are working with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to seize other assets.

Major General Montri Teschan, head of the anti-crime division, said police were still gathering evidence to arrest a second group of suspects.

He added that police have not yet decided whether to use Sittha’s close associates as witnesses or suspects. Close entourage was interrogated and relevant evidence was collected.

The arrests came after a former client of Sittha Jatuporn “Jeh Oy” Ubollert filed a complaint alleging the lawyer stole 71 million baht she sent him to set up an online lottery platform for her.

During four days of police questioning, Jatuporn claimed that Sitta had:

>Conned her into paying 71 million baht to invest in an online lottery platform

>Forced her to pay her relatives 39 million baht in compensation for what they claimed was the value of bitcoins allegedly given to a Chinese entertainer as payment for meeting Jatuporn

>1.5 million baht fined above market price for Mercedes Benz SUV she told City to buy

>Charge almost three times more for hotel design. She reportedly paid 9 million baht for a job that was actually worth 3.5 million baht.

Several other victims have also come forward, alleging Sitta ripped them off. – Nation/ANN