Four suspects, allegedly linked to the Forex-3D foreign exchange futures investment scheme, reported to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) this morning (Tuesday), to face charges of fraud and violations of the Computer Crime Act.
According to the DSI, the suspects are part of a third group of 16 people wanted by the DSI over their alleged involvement in the scam. Two more, including a former actor, are due to report to the DSI tomorrow.
All sixteen have been served with summonses, issued by the DSI. Several other suspects have already been indicted, among them is actress Savika “Pinky” Chaiyadej, who is currently being held on remand.
To date, property worth more than 570 million baht, including several luxurious cars, has been seized and impounded. About 12,000 investors in the scheme have filed complaints with the Anti-Money Laundering Office, seeking return of their money.
The investment scheme, described by the police as a Ponzi scheme, was created by a forex brokerage company called RMS Familia, established in 2015 and operated by Apiruk Kothi as its chief executive officer. Several other companies were also established, with Apiruk holding stakes in all, allegedly to launder the money received from the investors.
Through extensive advertising and recruitment of celebrities, RMS Familia offered investors returns of about 10% per month on a required minimum investment of 5,000 baht.
In 2019, the company began to experience liquidity problems, resulting in it defaulting on paying returns to some investors. As new investments reduced, the company could not cover all the promised returns to existing investors.
