Hospital tycoon wanted for fraud ‘has fled country’

Both Dr. Boon Vanasin’s daughter and wife give themselves to the authorities.

Dr Boon Vanasin, the founder and chairman of Thonburi Healthcare Group, is wanted on an arrest warrant for public fraud, money laundering and related offences. He reportedly fled the country and is now in China. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Dr Boon Vanasin, the founder and chairman of Thonburi Healthcare Group, is wanted on an arrest warrant for common scams, cash fraud and related crimes. He is currently in China, according to reports. ( Bangkok Post file photo )

According to reports, the wife and daughter of Boon Vanasin, the founder of Thonburi Healthcare Group ( THG), who is still at large in China, have reportedly turned themselves in to the police as a result of warrants issued on suspicion of public fraud.

Jaruwan Vanasin, 79, and her child, Nalin, 51, declined to speak to the media on Saturday. They denied all of the claims, and their attorney informed investigators that they had surrendered.

The couple claimed they had no knowledge of the alleged fraudulent plans, that they had not signed any checks, and that their names had been fake.

The 86-year-old Dr. Boon, along with his wife and daughter, were granted bail by the Metropolitan Police Bureau ( MPB) on Friday. Permits were also issued for six other suspects, who were all arrested on Friday.

All of the suspects are accused of defrauding investors of money through Dr. Boon’s clinical ventures.

Dr Boon is also alleged to have forged his former daughter-in-law’s name to secure a product, causing problems estimated at 7.5 billion baht. Dr. Boon is facing charges of common scams, phony saving, money laundering, and issuing false checks, according to the criminal court.

The various defendants have been charged in a similar way. 527 complaints against Dr. Boon were filed at the Huai Khwang officers station between December 2013 and October 2014 by patients who were unable to cash checks he had issued.

Dr Boon used his status as a powerful medical executive to encourage five medical-related projects, including a cancer centre, a wellness centre in Thailand, hospitals in Laos and Vietnam, and a skilled intelligence project, to bring investments.

Over 16 billion baht was invested overall in the five initiatives, with projections of 700 million ringgit in 2023 and 1 billion baht for this year. Although first payments were made, following bills were missed, leading to problems with buyers trying to cash their payments, said a source familiar with the research.

Dr. Boon left Thailand on September 29 after making a trip from Bangkok to Hong Kong before continuing to China, according to Pol Maj Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, assistant director of the MPB.

Dr. Boon allegedly lied to stock market regulators by releasing misleading information that caused an increase in THG’s share value in 2022. The preceding year, he had announced that THG had bought 20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccinations from Pfizer for distribution to Thailand. No shipments ever occured.

On Friday, authorities arrested two people linked to Dr Boon’s system at a law firm in Bang Bua Thong city of Nonthaburi. Additionally, they were accused of borrowing money without authorization. Authorities identified them merely as 38-year-old Siriwimol and Jidapha, 53. Seized from them was a Mercedes-Benz.

On Friday, authorities detained two ladies on fraud claims in connection with purchases made by medical billionaire Boon Vanasin at a non-profit organization in Nonthaburi. ( Photo: Metropolitan Police Bureau's IDMB Facebook

On Friday, authorities detained two ladies on fraud claims in connection with purchases made by medical billionaire Boon Vanasin at a non-profit organization in Nonthaburi. ( Photo: Metropolitan Police Bureau’s IDMB Facebook