Prosecutors indict 17 in iCon fraud case, acquit 2 celebrities

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In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 8 Jan 2025 at 17: 32

Celebrities Yuranunt “Boss Sam” Pamornmontri and Kan Kantathavorn greet reporters as they and other suspects in the iCon fraud case are taken to the Criminal Court on Oct 17 last year. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
Celebrities Kan Kantathavorn and Yuranunt” Boss Sam” Pamornmontri greet investigators as they are detained in the criminal court on October 17 next year. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )

Lawyers have indicted 17 suspects in The image Group forgery case, including CEO and founder Waranthaphon” Boss Paul” Wratyaworrakul, and dropped charges against professional Yuranunt Pamornmontri and performer Pechaya Wattanamontree.

The 17 accused face claims of common scams, false saving and improperly running a direct sales company, and other related crimes.

The Department of Special Investigation ( DSI) investigators reported their report on the iCon Group case and 19 suspects on December 23rd, according to Sakkasem Nisaiyok, spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General ( OAG ).

The case was filed by Nath Thanapipatdollaphat and other members of the subjects against Waranthaphon, CEO of The image Group, and 18 different offenders. They were accused of cooperation in open fraud, dishonesty, putting false information into a machine system, false loans, running an unregistered direct sales company and other offences.

The alleged offences occurred between Aug 12, 2020 and Aug 31, 2024 in Bangkok and other provinces across the country, and allegedly caused damage put at 649.91 million baht in total.

&lt, &gt, The prosecutors decided to indict iCon founder and CEO Warathaphon and 16 other suspects, all dubbed’ bosses ” in the iCon marketing hierarchy. Kan Kantathavorn, a TV host, was one of them.

According to Mr. Sakkasem, the prosecutions have decided to drop charges against Pechaya” Boss Min” and actor Yuranunt” Boss Sam.” &nbsp,

On Wednesday, the 17 suspects were formally arraigned in the Criminal Court.

The two uncharged celebrities would also be requested by the prosecution to release them. Prior to being released from custody, they and the other 17 suspects had already been held in custody. The DSI was being informed, &nbsp, the OAG spokesman said.

arathaphon ‘Boss Paul’ Waratyaworrakul, founder and CEO of The iCon Group, is escorted by police from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Oct 18. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)

On October 18, police escort Waraphon” Boss Paul” Waratyaworrakul, the founder and CEO of The iCon Group, from the Central Investigation Bureau to the Bangkok Criminal Court. ( Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut )

Sakkasem Nisaiyok, spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General ( OAG ), speaks at the press conference on Wednesday. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )

Sakkasem Nisaiyok, spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General ( OAG ), speaks at the press conference on Wednesday. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )