The caretaker of a buffalo kept as evidence at the Kannayao police station met police on Thursday to formally hear charges against him. He denied the allegations.
Surat Phaewket travelled from Chai Nat province to meet police at the station in Bangkok's Kannayao district with his lawyer, Ratchaphol Sirisakorn, after police had threatened to issue a summons for him.
Police earlier pressed four charges against him -- fraud, violating the Computer Crime Act, deceiving people into donating money and laundering money -- on Tuesday.
The animal caretaker denied the accusations, according to INN news.
Mr Surat was hired by Boonlert Kanpakdi to take care of Thong Kham the buffalo in Nuen Kham district of Chai Nat while his field was flooded. The caretaker later posted a message on his Facebook asking for donations to buy the animal, claiming the owner would send it to a slaughterhouse. Mr Boonlert denied the claim to sell the buffalo.
Lawyer Songkan Atchariyasap, one of the donors, then wrote a complaint against Mr Surat with police on Tuesday at the Kannayao police station.
Kannayao police chief Pol Col Sing Singhadej said on Thursday investigators had checked Mr Surat's bank account and found 160,000 baht had been transferred to him, 100,000 baht of which was later withdrawn.
Mr Surat said on Wednesday that he misunderstood that the owner wanted to sell Thong Kham for food and promised to return all donations.
The case impacted the buffalo as the animal has been transported from Mr Surat's house to the Kannayao police station as evidence. The buffalo is now kept in the premises of the police station.
Mr Surat met Thong Kham again at the police station and said he wanted to take the buffalo back home so he can tend to it.
