Senator claims that Dr. Boon Vanasin continued to promote tasks despite mounting problems.
PUBLISHED: 3 Dec 2024 at 17: 06
A Senate committee has criticized the government for failing to protect people from falling prey to purchase fraud schemes like the one involving Dr. Boon Vanasin, the leader of Thonburi Healthcare Group.
According to associate federal police chief Pol Lt Gen Samran Nualma, at least 300 people have filed official concerns about losing money to the cover-up of the high-profile scams, with entire loss estimated at 9.16 billion ringgit.
Dr Boon, 86, has fled the country and is believed to be hiding in China.
According to investigators, Dr. Boon allegedly sought funding for five multibillion-baht projects based on his reputation as a successful hospital executive.
Sen. Premsak Piayura, the committee’s deputy chairman for information and communication technologies, claimed that the government did not take its responsibility seriously enough.
He claimed at a committee meeting on Monday that they permitted advertisements for Dr. Boon’s investment plan to continue on social media despite the numerous complaints made to the Huai Khwang police in Bangkok last year.
The relevant organizations cannot simply advise people to refrain from rushing through transferring funds or acting greedily because doing so would shift the blame to the victims of fraud,” he said.
How could it not be stopped from this phony advertising? He asked, adding that Thai law governs the social media platforms, even though they are not Thai legal entities.
Sen. Premsak argued that the DES, particularly the Ministry of Digital Economy, must be held accountable for failing to protect the public from the scam.
The senator said he would then have to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission to bring legal action against the minister for dereliction of duty if DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong continues to ignore numerous existing fraudulent websites.
Police are gathering more evidence, according to Pol Lt Gen Samran, in order to issue an Interpol red notice for Dr. Boon, one of the nine suspects in this fraud case.
Last Thursday, police arrested Nawara Vanasin, Dr Boon’s daughter-in-law, on fraud and money-laundering charges, he said.
After the police raided two locations believed to be Dr. Boon’s offices in the Rama IV area of Bangkok on Tuesday morning, more warrants and searches are anticipated, according to Pol Lt. Gen. Samran.
Fifteen documents were seized, including copies of land title deeds, hospital advertising materials and recorded meeting minutes, he said.