A Malaysian man was arrested and charged in Bangkok today with shooting dead two Japanese nationals in the Thai capital, police said.

George Fernandez, 64, was charged with killing Yoshino Kojima, 53, and Tatsuya Hisagane, 52, whose bodies were found dumped on the side of a road on the northern outskirts of Bangkok on March 28, police said.

"He has denied being involved in the killings, which appear to be related to a large amount of money," Lieutenant General Wuth Puavej told AFP.

Another police officer said the Japanese men, carrying several hundred thousand dollars, had arranged to meet Fernandez at his Bangkok home to discuss a business deal that was arranged over the Internet.

Details not known

Details of the business deal or exactly how much money was discovered at the house were not known.

Fernandez, who has lived in Thailand for about 16 years, has told police that it appears the men were killed at his house but that he was not involved, the officer said on condition of anonymity.

He has been charged with premeditated murder, concealing bodies and illegally carrying a gun, police said.