Public prosecutors have indicted a Dutchman and his Thai wife who were arrested on money laundering charges in Pattaya three months ago.
Authorities take Dutch drug suspect Johannes Petrus Maria van Laarhoven (with cap) and his Thai wife (not in picture) to the Department of Special Investigation after raiding their house in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, on July 23, 2014. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
Johannes Petrus Maria van Laarhoven, 54, and his wife Mingkwan Kaen-in, or Mingkwan van Laarhoven, 32, were indicted on offences in violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1999.
Authorities have seized several bank accounts from the couple who were arrested on July 23.
Authorities raid and search the house of drug suspect Johannes Petrus Maria van Laarhoven in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, on July 23, 2014. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
According to a lawsuit, the defendants and their accomplices transfered several millions of euros obtained from the sale of drugs from banks in Europe and one in Singapore to Mr Laarhoven’s Kasikornbank accounts in Pattaya between July 2008 and June this year.
The court has ordered the couple to testify on Friday. Mr Laarhoven is being detained at Bangkok Remand Prison and Mrs Mingkwan is being held at the Central Women's Correctional Institution.
On Oct 8, the couple’s lawyer lodged a counter-lawsuit against prosecutors and the secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) Seehanat Prayoonrat, accusing them of abusing their powers and bullying them. The court will hear the plaintiff’s testimony on Dec 1.