Deputy Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau reveals the results of the search operation at 9 locations of “The Icon Group” and its subsidiaries, urgently searching for evidence linking to prosecution after the number of victims has increased to almost 500, with damages of 178 million baht.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Sophon Saraphat, deputy commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, revealed progress in the case of The Icon Group Co., Ltd., saying that today 235 people have filed complaints, bringing the total number of victims in the past 3 days, from October 10 to the present, to 488, with damages worth 178 million baht. Today, a request has been made to the Criminal Court to issue a search warrant to search The Icon Group Co., Ltd. and its affiliates, including warehouses in 9 locations in Bangkok and Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province. The search is currently underway.
Meanwhile, Mr. Woraratphon Woratworakul, or Boss Paul, the executive of The Icon Group Co., Ltd., and several others have trave
led to meet with investigators. They are currently being questioned at the Consumer Protection Police Division.
Pol. Col. Sophon said that he would like to inform the public who will travel to file a complaint, in the case of those who are in the provinces, the Royal Thai Police has sent a radio order to urgently order investigators nationwide in every area to accept the complaint. As for the investigation issue, it has been forwarded to investigators in every area. For the public who are registered in the provinces, there is no need to travel to the Central Investigation Bureau. They can go file a complaint at the nearest police station. In addition, the Central Investigation Bureau has arranged 70 investigators to support each day, along with snacks and drinks for the public who come to file a complaint.
Pol. Col. Sophon said that for the search, officers have been conducting it since October 10, questioning witnesses and their testimonies in this section must contain details that must be linked to additi
onal evidence, both material and documentary evidence, which the victims only know by nickname. The investigators must search for information to gather evidence in every dimension.
However, yesterday, Ms. Jiraporn Sindhuphrai, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, invited the Royal Thai Police, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation, the Consumer Protection Board, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, and relevant agencies to urge them to handle the case quickly and discussed with the Fiscal Policy Office of the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the Royal Decree on Fraudulent Loans to the Public or Ponzi Schemes, to provide guidance to the police. However, the DSI has ordered its investigators to proactively investigate alongside the police.
As for the criteria for whether the case will be submitted to the DSI or not, Pol. Lt. Col. Sophon said that he is currently aware that the DSI has been proactive and has been coordinating with the police all along. Today, officers have been sent t
o work with the police.
When asked if an arrest warrant could be issued, Pol. Col. Sophon said that they would have to quickly search for the facts and gather evidence from all sides. They are currently in the process of collecting information, and the officers have been working hard. For the search for evidence, the officers have retrieved information from the company’s server and set up a team of investigators to help look into this matter. The evidence obtained from today’s search will be very important to be used in conjunction with the testimonies of all the victims. The victims have been categorized because their behavior may have led to them spending different amounts of money, ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands. Some of them even received promotions to travel abroad, which will have to be taken into consideration.
In the case where Mr. Waratphon came to meet the investigator first, according to the procedure, the investigator must ask his full name, address, and must inform Mr. Waratpho
n of the details that the victim has accused. When the legal process is complete, he will be released. When asked if he might flee if released, Pol. Maj. Gen. Sophon said that there were no circumstances indicating that he would flee.
As for the arrest warrants for executives of The Icon Group and other related celebrities, Pol. Lt. Col. Sophon said that the accused executive is Boss Paul, who is involved in the crime of fraudulent borrowing of money from the public. The arrest warrants cannot be issued at this time because they are still collecting documentary evidence, especially the interrogation of individual victims, who each have different circumstances. In addition, the raid this time is something that the police are trying to find documentary evidence linking the company to bring charges against executives of The Icon Group and all related persons. As for other individuals who have gradually come to see the investigators at this time, they have not been charged with any crimes and have not been charg
ed. In addition, the investigators have also found that some individuals of The Icon Group are also guilty of violating the Computer Act.
In the case where the executives of The Icon Group traveled to meet the investigators before being summoned, everything followed the legal process according to the Criminal Procedure Code, Section 134, paragraph one. When giving statements to the investigators, they could not be detained. They had to wait to collect evidence before proceeding with the next step.
As for the focus on whether Boss Paul is Thai or not, this part will have to be coordinated with the Ministry of Interior to look at the details of the origin of the person’s ID card. And as for the news that Boss Paul’s ID card has the number 5 in front, we will have to ask the relevant agencies to come out and clarify this case.
When asked whether the suspect would flee if released, and whether he would be able to request a passport to prevent escape, Pol. Lt. Col. Sophon said it would depend on whether the sus
pect would provide such documents or not, as there had been no evidence of escape at this time.
Source: Thai News Agency