AMLO is probing 16 Thai persons mentioned in Panama Papers

BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has found 16 Thai persons with overseas holdings listed by a Panama-based law firm and is examining their businesses. Acting AMLO secretary-general Seehanat Prayoonrat said that his office found the names of the 16 persons after verifying information with financial intelligence units of other countries following leaked information also known as "Panama Papers" from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. The AMLO already identified their companies and the countries where their businesses were registered, he said. The 16 persons were among 719 persons and companies with businesses involving Thailand. Earlier the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) mentioned their names in connection with the Panama Papers. The AMLO would find out if the 16 persons had been involved in any money-laundering, Pol Col Seehanat said while refusing to reveal their names. Regarding the 719 parties, he said that about 400 were Thai persons, about 200 were foreigners with business in Thailand and about 40 were juristic persons with business in the country. They had 634 companies registered mostly in Bangkok and other provinces that were tourist destinations, he said. The AMLO had earlier seized the assets of a foreign embezzler who had laundered money by spending it on establishing an investment firm overseas. The person was in the list of ICIJ, Pol Col Seehanat said. (TNA)