22 Prasit Jeawkok (holding microphone), chairman of the Kuen Khun Pandin project, speaks during a briefing last October in Bangkok on how to revive the economy. He is now at large after police cracked down on an allegedly fraudulent network of companies controlled by him this week. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)
Police have arrested four high-profile suspects in connection with a fraudulent investment ring, including a well-known tourism project, with damage estimated at 1 billion baht.
Crime suppression officers launched a sting operation at nine locations in Greater Bangkok this week. They acted on complaints filed by thousands of victims.
They took into custody Lt Col Dr Amraporn Visetsuk, chairwoman of the Tiao Puea Chart (Travel for the Country) project, and three others, on charges of public fraud and collaborating in fraudulent public borrowing. All of them denied the charges.