More potential suspects in GHB embezzlement case

However, Crime Suppression Division officers did not say whether these alleged suspects were GHB officials, like Somkiat Panyaworrakhundej.

"There are three or four people suspected of assisting Somkiat," CSD inspector Pol Colonel Phornsak Surasit said.

These new suspects will be charged for allegedly playing a part in money laundering, like Phutthachart Wongjantha, Somkiat's girlfriend, who is now custody and charged for purportedly helping Somkiat embezzle the funds.

Acting on police recommendation, the Criminal Court yesterday turned down a request for the temporary release of Somkiat and Phutthachart. They both pleaded not guilty and said they would only testify in court.

The CSD and the Antimoney Laundering Office are jointly tracing hundreds of millions of baht that have gone missing, while the GHB board of directors has said it would find out next week which bank officials can be held responsible for the losses through their flawed performance.

Meanwhile, a senior Government Savings Bank (GSB) official admitted making a mistake in which Bt80 billion was recorded in one client's bank account.

Thaweesak Chuangprayoon blamed a malfunctioning dot printer at a GSB branch in Lampang's Ngao district for the error. He also explained that Nittaya Bunthae had opened her account in 2004, four years after the money was recorded in another account mistakenly registered in her name.

On April 8, 52yearold Nittaya updated her bank book after withdrawing Bt7,500 from her account, and instead of showing a balance of Bt51.99, the book showed Bt80 billion.