A Thai businessman wanted on several charges – including lese majeste – in connection with a criminal network headed by Thailand’s former Central Investigations Bureau Chief Pongpat Chayapan has fled to Cambodia, according to Thai media.

Nopporn Suppipat, 43, the founder of Wing Energy Holding Co, who was ranked 31st on the Forbes list of the richest people in Thailand this year, fled to Cambodia via the Pailin border crossing after allegedly hiring two men to kidnap a rival businessman in July.

A police official in Pailin town, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to talk to the media, yesterday said police were aware of the Thai investigation into Nopporn, but did not know if he was in Cambodia.

Nopporn fled the country on Monday, a day before a military court issued a warrant for his arrest, Thai police said.

Spokesmen for the Ministry of Interior and the National Police could not be reached yesterday.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY THE BANGKOK POST