The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) has frozen assets worth almost 15 million baht of TC Blue Dream Ltd, the operator of the ill-fated Phoenix boat that capsized and killed 47 Chinese tourists in July last year.
On its website, Amlo said the assets, five items in total, will be frozen for 90 days starting from Dec 17 of last year to March 16 this year as the agency looks into the money-laundering aspect of the case.
Two of the items are from the wreckage of the Phoenix which was recovered from the sea in the middle of November and a steel vessel along with equipment. They are valued at 14 million baht.
The remaining items are deposits in three banks worth about 56,000 baht.
The asset freeze has been ordered by Amlo's transaction committee and those who want to challenge the order can do so within 30 days of being notified.
The move is based on Amlo's findings that TC Blue Dream Ltd was operating illegally on behalf of foreign interests in Phuket. The company is owned by Woralak Ruekchaikal, who is suspected of being the nominee of her husband, a Chinese national identified as Lei Hou, to circumvent regulations imposed by the Foreign Business Act.
Ms Woralak was arrested and charged with recklessness causing death and injuries to others, and reckless conduct causing physical and mental harm to others. Her husband remains at large.
Two tour boats sank off Phuket on July 5. While tourists from one boat were all safely rescued, the Phoenix, which was carrying 89 tourists and 12 crew sank, killing 47 visitors from China.
