iCon may lose licence over fraud claims

Warathaphon Waratyaworrakul, founder and CEO of The iCon Group, is escorted by police from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to the Criminal Court in Bangkok last month. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)
Warathaphon Waratyaworrakul, founder and CEO of The iCon Group, is escorted by police from the Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ) to the Criminal Court in Bangkok last month. ( Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut )

The Office of the Consumer Protection Board ( OCPB) is considering revoking the licence of scandal-hit The iCon Group, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai said.

The direct sales company is alleged to have engaged in pyramid schemes and people fraud.

According to Ms. Jiraporn, OCPB is currently gathering data and information to ensure the company’s business license departure is properly handled.

On Wednesday, the Council of State will hold a discussion about the issue.

Ms. Jiraporn objected to the court’s slow progress, blaming strict enforcement of the applicable laws and regulations.

Ms. Jiraporn reported that the internal investigation against OCPB officials who allegedly served as The logo Group’s “guidance angels” had been extended by another 30 days and was scheduled to conclude on December 16.

In related news, Pol Maj Woranan Srilam, a DSI spokeswoman, said the DSI would go to Bangkok Remand Prison to further question 11 adult suspects in the case on Wednesday and on Thursday.

Prior to this, DSI authorities had to inform the suspects of their fees and conduct interviews, but they failed to provide any details, according to Pol Maj Woranan.

The suspects stated that they wanted to produce a statement of ignorance within 15 days, but the DSI has not yet received them.

Because all of the seven adult suspects who were being detained at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution had already made their claims, the DSI was free to ask them any more questions.

A dialogue between Kritanong Suwannawong, a mediator between The image Group and its alleged subjects, and another person about a 10-million-baht pay reportedly being made to the DSI was voiced on Monday. The Central Institute of Forensic Science’s criminal investigation department will receive the tracking.