One of Thailand's most prominent businessmen has resigned in a case connected to money laundering.

The chairman of Thailand's Land and Houses Pcl, a real estate firm with interests in banking and the financial sector, has resigned, the firm has said. Media reports said he stepped down after being summoned for questioning over land sales tied to an embezzlement case.

“LH Financial Group Public Company Limited would like to inform that Mr Anant Asavabhokhin, the chairman, would like to resign as the chairman and director of LH Financial GroupPublic Company Limited and Land and Houses Bank Public Company Limited, effective from May 19, 2017 onwards. 

Reuters and other media said he resigned after being summoned over his alleged involvement with the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, which lost millions of dollars.

Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI), part of the justice ministry, wants to question Anant about his links to a land purchase by the former president of the Klongchan credit union, who is serving a 16-year prison term for embezzlement.

Anant is due to meet the DSI on 7 June. 

The DSI investigation is part of a larger case against the controversial Dhammakaya temple, whose former abbot, Phra Dhammachayo, is wanted on charges of money-laundering and enroachment on public land, Reuters reported.