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Published on February 13, 2008

An investigation was immediately launched by National Police spokesman Maj-General Pongsapat Pongcharoen.

The members of the scheme operated by Yufuku Decorate Co and Paradise Car Rent Co yesterday appealed to national police chief General Seripisut Temiyavej to investigate the companies, which they have accused of cheating them.

Under the scheme, members had to buy brand-new cars or vans, which the companies rented out and then paid the members a share of the rental fees.

Kasem Sekul had bought a Toyota Commuter van which he had given to Yufuku Decorate Co to rent out. Instead, he found it in the police parking lot yesterday morning.

Inside the car were a police uniform, a map carrying the name of undercover police officer Sergeant Montri Thewarat and the telephone number of a woman called "Mam".

A police officer manning the reception desk said the van had been driven into the parking lot on Monday evening by a man called Somchai, who had left the car keys behind.

Police spokesman Pongsapat then called Montri and Corporal Chaiwat Prachachai, who was given the keys, for an explanation. He checked security footage but could not clearly identify the driver.

Montri said when he went to work yesterday morning, Chaiwat had asked him to move the vehicle to another spot because it was parked in a senior officer's reserved space.

Chaiwat, who worked from 8am on Monday to 8am Tuesday, said the mystery driver, Somchai, was 170-centimetres tall and looked Cambodian.

Pol Lt-Col Karin Thongmano said in a number of instances senior staff rented vehicles which were delivered to the police building and the keys given to attendants.

It was understandable his subordinates would assume that this was the case with the mystery vehicle. He called for a through investigation before his subordinates were judged to be at fault.

After accepting the group's complaints, Pongsapat and Pol Maj-General Juti Thamma-nowanich, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said an investigation would be launched into Kasem's van and any officers found to be in the wrong would be punished. Pongsapat said another

team would investigate the car-rental companies.

He urged the members to file complaints with the local police station where the alleged cheating took place and city police would gather evidence.

Kasem took back his Toyota van and went to file a compliant at Bangkok's Pathumwan police station.

The Nation