A man who falsely claimed to be an army general has been arrested in Bangkok for illegally possessing carcasses and skins of protected wildlife.
A combined team of officials from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, and police raided a house belonging to Wankasat Promthong, 31, in Chatuchak district on Friday.
Authorities seized carcasses including those of a lion and a leopard as well as 13 elephant tusks. Mr Wankasat faces a police complaint in connection with the illegal possession of the carcasses of protected animals.
Authorities also found documents pertaining to a legal case of fraudulent cheques committed in the Thung Song Son area of Bangkok; and loan contracts each worth between 500,000 and five million baht.
Mr Wankasat told police he acquired the carcasses while he was ordained as a monk. He said they were given to him by his disciples.
A police source said the suspect had claimed he was an army general with close connections to high-ranking figures. He was also accused of fraud in the bidding for state projects.
Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Suthin Supphuang has ordered the Crime Suppression Division to locate damaged parties in the case and treat them as witnesses.
On May 15, Mr Wankasat was reportedly spotted at the birthday party of former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyud at the Army Club in Bangkok.
