Police are closing in on members of one of Thailand's most powerful sugar families as investigations intensify into the recent killing of an Australian auditor.
Police sources confirmed yesterday that they are now searching for Pradit Siriviriyakul, saying they had evidence to show he initiated the murder of Michael Wansley, corporate restructuring chief for international financial consultancy Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
Police have an arrest warrant for Pradit, who had been named with other members of the Siriviriyakul family during police interviews with one of the executives of their Kaset Thai Sugar Company, Boonphan Sutheeviriwan.
Mr Boonphan has denied involvement but earlier warned that Thais must stand up for their 'economic sovereignty'.
Australian businessmen are now being offered police protection if they venture into rural areas.
Wansley, 58, had been travelling to a Kaset Thai mill in rural Nakorn Sawan when he was shot eight times by a passenger on a motorcycle.
The investigative accountant had been hired by the creditor banks of Kaset Thai to deal with about US$450 million (HK$3.5 billion) worth of debt and is understood to have uncovered several irregularities.