Today (July 17) Wanchai – who is one of the accused in the ongoing investigation into mafia taxi activities and money laundering in Kata-Karon – finally arrived with the keys.
It has been a long wait for police to find out what was in the box. Watched by high-ranking police, Navy and Army officers, Wanchai was told by Chanchai Pongpasson of the Anti-Money Laundering Office to open the safe.
Wanchai spun the combination lock, then turned the key. The safe did not open.
He tried again, with the same result. Finally, after five minutes of tension, on the third attempt, the safe opened.
It was completely empty. Even a small locked drawer inside the safe was empty. A faint smile flitted across Wanchai’s face.
Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, who is leading the investigation into mafia taxi activities in Phuket, also smiled.
He told a municipal staffer to write down what had happened so that all present could sign it as a true record. Turning to The Phuket News, he said, “We will carry on [with the investigation].”
Mr Chanchai, too, seemed undaunted by the lack of any evidence in the safe. “We’ll keep working,” he said.