PEOPLE SMUGGLERS' ASSETS FROZEN IN THAILAND

A group of female Rohingya migrants are queuing to get health information from an official in Hua Sai district of Nakhon Si Thammarat in January. (Bangkok Post file photo) — **A group of female Rohingya migrants are queuing to get health information from an official in Hua Sai district of Nakhon Si Thammarat in January.** (Bangkok Post file photo)

Bangkok, 12 Jumadal Awwal 1436/3 March 2015 (MINA) – The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) has frozen assets worth 12 million believed to be the proceeds of the smuggling of illegal Rohingya migrants into Thailand.

Amlo secretary-general Pol Col Seehanat Prayoonrat said a total of 89 asset items worth around 12 million baht in total had been frozen for 90 days, Bangkok Post quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

They were related to the case against two human trafficking suspects, Phadungsak Boonnithi and Suthipong Chuaypat, accused of the smuggling of Rohingya migrants. The case is being handled by Hua Sai police station in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Hua Sai district.

Pol Col Seehanat said investigators traced to the suspects’ network and concluded the assets were the proceeds of the alleged human trafficking, which is an offence under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Therefore, the assets have been frozen, but the owners may present evidence to counter the decision within 30 days.

A total of 98 illegal Rohingya migrants were arrested while travelling inside Thailand on five pickup trucks by Hua Sai police on Jan 11, 2015. One of them died shortly after they were arrested, and two more died later on. These illegal migrants are still in Thailand.(T/P004/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)