Thai police have issued an arrest warrant for Cambodian senator Ly Yong Phat and four others, including Chinese nationals, for allegedly laundering money linked to online scams.
Pol Lt Gen Surapol Prembut, commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, said on Sunday that the Criminal Court issued the warrants last Thursday for Mr Ly, 67, his close aide Chokchai Supapha, 37, and three Chinese suspects.
Investigators believe the group received and laundered funds stolen by scam networks.
On Sunday, police and Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) officials searched 36 locations in Bangkok and Trat province, which borders Cambodia, seizing assets worth around 400 million baht for examination.
The raids targeted two condominiums in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area and a land plot in tambon Wang Krajae, Muang district of Trat. Seized assets included the five-million-baht plot of land, a Mercedes-Benz, and about 88 million baht in bank accounts.
Pol Maj Gen Komkrit Sukthai, commander of Cyber Crime Investigation Division 3, said Mr Ly left Thailand for Cambodia on Oct 10.