A committee led by Sanit’s deputy Pol Maj-General Thanapol Sonthes is now investigating whether these six police investigators, five supervisors, four superintendents, and three deputy commanders breached regulations as per the Royal Thai Police’s 149th and 960th orders.

If the committee finds information suggesting abuse of authority or other offences, it will propose disciplinary and criminal punishments accordingly, Sanit said.

He said police were in Chiang Rai to contact two Laotian girls – who worked with Monta in 2011 and fled back to Laos before Monta filed a complaint accusing them of stealing Bt2.9 million in valuables – to get evidence from them. If they are innocent as claimed, they will be protected and ensured of justice, he said.

He said the case of one girl identified as Kabkaew went to a prosecutor because of lack of a defence testimony, so if she came forward – while she would be arrested and granted bail – it would clear her name and Monta might face another count of perjury.

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) deputy chief Pol Maj-General Sommai Kongwisaisuk, who leads the multi-division investigation team on Monta’s cases, said police would file more charges against Monta next week.

He said police would summon the abbot of Wat Yeepa monastery in Ayutthaya, as he might link Monta’s alleged duping of elderly businesswoman Saiyai Yingphum into paying Bt2.8 million in the hope of getting a royal decoration and a “khunying” title.

Saiyai and other witnesses went to testify to CIB chief Pol Maj-General Thitirat Nonghanpithak yesterday and called for a probe of the Wat Yeepa abbot’s qualifications.

Thitirat said a probe of transactions so far found that Monta might have committed more than 10 criminal acts with help from more than 10 accomplices.

An informed source reported that police yesterday searched Monta’s condominium for a second time and seized documents and security camera servers for inspection.

A CIB source reported that Monta’s husband, Pol Lt-Colonel Chidchai Saeng-arunrong, superintendent at Klongpikrai in Kamphaeng Phet, and son Wanchalerm testified to police yesterday. While the son reportedly insisted he had no knowledge of Monta’s behaviour, the testimony by Chidchai was not revealed.