Ministry steps into iCon affair

Criminal Code breaches suspected

Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira
Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira

The logo Group direct sales company’s fraud scandal has been investigated by the Finance Ministry.

Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced yesterday that the government would look into whether the company had violated both an administrative order and the Criminal Code.

He was referring to Section 341 of the Criminal Code, which states that anyone who defrauds, conceals legally binding data, or obtains goods from another through fraud faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and/or a fine of up to 6, 000 ringgit.

A person who impersonates another or deceives others who are prone or susceptible to fraud is subject to a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of up to 10,000 ringgit under Section 342.

According to Mr. Pichai, the government will also be waiting for the outcome of the case’s police investigation, adding that it will also take into account future improvements to associated laws to improve the effectiveness of dealing with offenders.

The incident was discussed at today’s case meeting, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

She said she instructed the Royal Thai Police to increase the number of ways people can file problems and for the Office of the Consumer Protection Board to increase law enforcement efforts against those who commit fraud and educate the public about fraud schemes.

Sheriff regional Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet

Sheriff regional Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet

She added that the Finance Ministry was given the directive to take steps to deal with companies involved in arch plans.

As authorities continue to look into allegations that the direct selling team ran a pyramid scheme, National Police Chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet announced yesterday that roughly 1,100 vendors who had suffered losses had complained to The logo Group.

He expressed his satisfaction with how far more than 900 accusers have been interrogated, adding that so far more than 900 have been done.

The federal police commander had a personal meeting with some of the plaintiffs who showed up yesterday at Bangkok’s Central Investigation Bureau.

He claimed that if officers discovered proof that legal action was justified, they may file a lawsuit against the business this month.

” The investigation is being conducted.” Authorities say they have suspicion of wrongdoing, but they must be careful before requesting an imprisonment warrant,” according to Pol Gen Kitrat.

Additionally, police have requested a response from the Anti-Money Laundering Office ( Amlo ) by tomorrow to freeze the assets of key figures connected to the case.

By providing website promotion courses for less than 100 baht, the symbol Group attracted a lot of people. However, when they signed up, respondents claimed they were asked to spend significantly more money on selling health supplements. After that, they were asked to pay for online advertising to get new users, for which they could make commissions.

The image Group was fined years earlier for inappropriate labeling that exaggerated the qualities of the items it sold, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin.

The logo chairman and chief executive officer Warathaphon” Paul” Waratyaworrakul, in a sad television looks on Monday, said his firm had been in the direct selling company for over six years, and its materials focused on diet products.

In response to queries about whether the celebrities held executive positions and therefore bear legal repercussions, he claimed, the company just employed celebrities to encourage its goods.