Businessman Kittisak Matthujad, 32, was picked up by senior police officers at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan early today (May 22) after British authorities notified them that he was flying back on a Thai Airways International flight from London, where he'd been since Christmas.
At a midday press conference at the Royal Thai Police Office national police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang said he had sent deputy Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda to England to press Britain to assist in repatriating Mr Kittisak.
The suspect was brought to the Royal Thai Police Office for interrogation after the plane touched down around 5:45am. The Crime Suppression Division planned further interrogation and would seek longer detention, Pol Gen Somyot said.
Mr Kittisak is accused of receiving embezzled university funds from Songklod Sriprasong, a former manager at Siam Commercial Bank and Bank of Ayudhya. The ex-manager also transferred money to four friends and a relative of Mr Kittisak, police claim.
Mr Kittisak denied he had embezzled KMITL funds. He said that he knew Mr Songklod, the former bank manager, and had borrowed money from him.
Mr Songklod had transferred money to him repeatedly for three years and each transfer had amounted to B200-300 million, Mr Kittisak said.
He had spent the sums on investment projects and overseas football gambling while giving some to his family without knowing it had been stolen from KMITL, Mr Kittisak said.
The KMITL embezzlement reportedly started in 2012 and involved senior officials of the educational institute, including its former rector and former financial director, as well as the former bank manager and several people connected to Mr Kittisak.
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