Actor-turned-politician Rattapoom “Film” Tokongsup is facing an unwanted spotlight after being accused of extortion in the scandal engulfing one of Thailand’s largest direct-selling companies.
Rattapoom resigned from the Palang Pracharath Party last Friday (November 15) amid a police investigation into alleged extortion targeting top executives of the controversial iCon Group, who have been detained on charges of public fraud and running a pyramid scheme.
Rattapoom and consumer rights whistleblower Kritanong Suwannawong are accused of demanding 20 million baht from iCon’s Puncharat Kanokrakthanaporn (“Boss Pun”), in exchange for handing the company’s CEO Warathaphon Waratyaworrakul (“Boss Paul”) a chance to clear his name on the popular TV talk show “Hone Krasae”.
The CEO and Puncharat are among 18 iCon Group key figures detained since their arrests in early October. Over 9,400 individuals have filed police complaints against the group, alleging combined damage of almost 3 billion baht.
‘My name is worth more than that’
The extortion allegation was supported by an audio clip produced by the iCon executives’ lawyer. The clip allegedly features a phone conversation in which Rattapoom and Kritanong demand 20 million from Puncharat.
The show’s host, Kanchai Kamnerdploy, responded to the clip by filing a police complaint against Rattapoom and Kritanong, accusing them of defamation.
Kritanong, who chairs the Coordination Centre for Online Network Promotion, was arrested last Saturday (November 16) on charges of extortion and soliciting a bribe. Police said they were investigating whether the voice in the clip belongs to Rattapoom to decide if he should also face an extortion charge.
Rattapoom, who turned 40 last Sunday (November 17), insists he is innocent, claiming the phone conversation was about a 20-million-baht budget for his potential clients’ marketing plan that would include a TV appearance by Boss Paul. He said the clip had been edited to make it sound like he was demanding the money in exchange for the TV appearance.
“I have never been involved in any act of extortion. I would never do that. My reputation is worth more than 20 million,” Rattapoom said last week.
Difficult times in the past
The former award-winning actor-cum-singer is no stranger to adversity.
In 2006, a businessman accused Rattapoom of lacking gratitude after reportedly gifting the young singer a shophouse and a Mini Cooper during their alleged romantic affair. The businessman committed suicide in 2015 – two years after completing a five-year prison term for embezzlement.
In 2010, Rattapoom abruptly quit acting and entered the monkhood after actress-cum-model Annie Brooke claimed he had fathered her baby boy. The claim was disproved by a DNA test in 2012, prompting Annie to issue a public apology.
In 2018, Rattapoom and three fellow directors of the Payall Group were found guilty of operating an electronic payment business without permits. He confessed and was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended, and fined 50,000 baht.
Rattapoom has been registered as a director of 12 other companies, four of which are still operating.
Last year, he was interrogated in connection with the Forex 3D pyramid scam after its founder Apirak Kothi transferred 6 million baht into his bank account. Then a politician, Rattapoom was cleared of wrongdoing after producing evidence that the money was a payment for his smartphone game.
Man of many faces
Rattapoom was born on November 17, 1984, in Saraburi province. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Siam Technology College and a master’s in business administration from Sripatum University.
A popular singer since his teenage years in the 2000s, Rattapoom went on to become an actor, emcee, movie director, writer, social media influencer, businessman, and politician.
He has hopped between four political parties over the past eight years – Thai Local Power, Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, and Palang Pracharath – but never been elected as an MP.
Rattapoom first entered politics in October 2018, joining Thai Local Power and going on to become the party’s deputy spokesman. He contested in the 2019 general election but failed to win a seat, before quitting the party a few months later, citing “differences in ideology”.
In August 2019, he joined Pheu Thai as a lifetime member, offered a logoed jacket by senior party figures – a tradition reserved for celebrity newcomers.
However, he quit Pheu Thai after barely a year and joined Thai Sang Thai in 2020. He left to join Palang Pracharath in 2022, serving as deputy spokesman. He contested last year’s general election in Bangkok but again failed to win a parliamentary seat.
