File photo: The victims of the iCon group case reported to the police and gave a statement to the investigator on October 27, 2024
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) took over the investigation of the iCon Group from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) today.
Pol Maj-Gen Suwat Saengnoom, deputy commissioner of the CIB, said today that the CIB is in the process of handing over the iCon Group case files to the DSI.
He said it is now up to the DSI as to whether more people involved in the alleged fraud will be arrested or whether more charges will be filed against the 18 executives and core members of the company, including CEO Waratphol Waratvorakul.
He added that affected investors can, however, still file complaints with the CIB against the e-commerce company.
By last Saturday, the number of complaints had soared to 9,472, with total investments estimated at about 2.9 billion baht. Police have, so far, interviewed 5,999 complainants.
Meanwhile, the Senate held a hearing today on the scandal, questioning the wisdom of transferring the case to the DSI and whether the government has any measures to protect consumers from being duped by scammers using online platforms.
Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong, who was assigned by the prime minister to respond to the Senate’s enquiry, told the senators that the iCon Group is a special case and, therefore, it is appropriate that it should be handled by the DSI.
He said that there are several state agencies monitoring and regulating online commerce and advertising, especially the use of false or exaggerated information to attract customers. These include the Office of Consumer Protection Board, the Thai Food and Drug Administration and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, as well as Consumer Protection Division police.
He also said that the prime minister’s office has established a panel to investigate some officials at the Office of Consumer Protection Board, who are being accused of refusing to investigate the iCon Group, even after they had received multiple complaints about the company.
