PATHUM THANI -- An employee of the Royal Thai Mint has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of 50 polished-gold commemorative coins marking HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's 60th birthday.
The arrest of was announced at a press conference on Monday night by Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, a deputy national police chief, and Pol Maj Gen Thaworn Khaosa-ard, the provincial police chief.
Pol Gen Pongsapat said that after questioning 20 employees of the Royal Thai Mint,police investigators obtained a warrant from the Thanyaburi Court for the arrest of Mr Suchart.
Mr Suchart was apprehended on Monday at the mint, in Khlong Luang district, and charged with stealing his employer's property.
He denied the charge. He said that he would provide useful information in the case.
Pol Gen Pongsapat said the investigation would continue as it was initially believed at least two people were involved in the theft.
The coins, made in the denomination of 16,000 baht, went missing from a vault in the Coin Press Room of the Royal Thai Mint in Khlong Luang district on May 21. Police said the coins were flawed and were waiting to be destroyed when they were stolen by people they believed were staff members as there were no signs of a break in at the vault.
The value of the missing coins was not known, but the special coins have been sold to the public for 30,000 baht each.