PHUKET: One of the taxi drivers incriminated in this week's investigations has more than 100 million baht in several bank accounts, the regional police chief overseeing the Phuket probe said today.

Region 8 Police Commander and Task Force Chief, Major General Panya Mamen, said more details will emerge now that the Anti-Money Laundering Office is involved in probing the network of Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk ''mafia.''

The man with the accounts holding more than 100 million baht only worked as a taxi driver, Major General Panya said.

He added that witnesses in the extortion and intimidation cases against more than 100 Kata-Karon drivers would be given extra police protection.

''One witness came forward today to say one of their children had been approached at a school by a man,'' the major general said. ''Police are now seeking this man.

''Anyone on bail who approaches a witness or the family of a witness will swiftly find themselves back behind bars,'' he said. ''All police stations are providing witnesses and their families with additional security.

''We would like anyone who has information to come forward to ensure that justice is done.''

Another 13 people who have yet to be arrested have had their known bank accounts suspended, he said. Ninety-five people have already been apprehended, including the Mayor of Kata-Karon. Some have been allowed bail.

The cases already in process would be wrapped up and presented to the Phuket Public Prosecutor before July 15, he said, when the next part of the investigation would begin.

With the help of local Phuket councils, issues such as parking - taxis currently take out 80 percent of public spaces in Kata-Karon - and the excessive scale of fares are going to be reviewed.

''All the improvements to the Phuket service that we hope to bring about should be achieved with the help of local authorities by the next high season, starting in November,'' he said.

He hoped resort managers and their PR departments would make the point to their customers that law enforcement is being applied on Phuket and tourists are now more secure and safe than ever before.

Investigators from the Anti-Money Laundering Office had already picked up the first batch of files on Phuket so their forensic examination of bank accounts and financial affairs could begin.

Major General Panya said there were many honest taxi drivers on Phuket.

''Just a small proportion of the 3000 or 4000 drivers on Phuket were involved in intimidation and extortion,'' he added. ''Now is the time for the good drivers to start educating some of the others.''

The major general said that 16 huts used as bases by the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in different parts of Phuket had been demolished. Brought down were 10 in Kata-Karon, four in Cherng-Talay, two in Kamala and one in Tachatchai.

Another 13 erected illegally on public land would be destroyed in the next few days, he said.

Patong is expected to be central to the focus of the next part of the investigation with witnesses invited to contact task force investigating chief Major General Praveen Pongsirin on 081 8936083.