Police have found that a Chinese man used a Thai woman and her mother as proxies to set up companies that bought luxury houses in Bangkok for Chinese occupants who reportedly annoyed neighbours.
Investigators on Tuesday searched dozens of locations, including luxury houses on Pattanakan and Krungthep Kreetha roads, according to Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaonasai, head of the Central Investigation Bureau.
A Chinese man identified as Hao Deng used two women — identified only as Piyanoot and her mother Sakhon — as shareholders and directors of 33 companies, Pol Lt Gen Nathasak said on Wednesday.
The companies bought 33 luxury residences worth a total of 1.3 billion baht on Pattanakan and Krungthep Kreeta roads. The money came from Mr Hao, who is still being sought by police.
Police earlier received complaints from Thai residents at an unidentified luxury housing estate that Chinese occupants of the houses behaved badly and annoyed neighbours.
Police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) on Tuesday impounded the houses and seized 15 passports, 24 sets of documents related to suspected companies and six company stamps.
Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Jaruprat, the ECD commander, said the companies with Thai proxies were set up to avoid the law that prohibits foreigners from owning houses with land. The companies then bought luxury houses that were either sold to Chinese agencies or leased to Chinese tenants.
Police also found share transfer documents signed in advance by both the Thai suspects. They too would face charges, the ECD chief said.
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