Overview
A group of fraudsters has been apprehended by the police for allegedly scamming people into investing in fake development projects in the Northeast since 2021. The suspects used the name of the Chaipattana Foundation, a royally established organization, to deceive their victims.
The Arrests
The Crime Suppression Division chief, Pol Maj Gen Montree Theskhan, informed the press that the police had identified 10 suspects involved in the scam. Seven of them have been arrested and charged with fraud. The suspects are Somchai Namsom (59), Suriyaphan Sattayapitak (61), Aukkarawat Promkamnoi (59), Prasan Saengsawang (65), Niphon Phukongka (61), Warapon Suwankammun (58), and Somsak Khanthong (51). All of them have denied the charges.
Police teams were sent to search locations where the fraudulent activities occurred in Chaiyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Kalasin, Chiang Mai, Lampang, and Suphan Buri.
Seized Items and Remaining Suspects
During the arrests, the police confiscated documents containing details of 20 fake foundation projects used to entice victims, 18 passbooks, three ATM cards, and four mobile phones. The authorities are still searching for two more suspects, Kittisak Saiprom (58) and Metta Khanthong (53).
Another suspect, Lerdpong Chai-wonglerd (60), is already in prison for an unrelated criminal offense.
Extent of the Fraud
According to Pol Maj Gen Montree Theskhan, the Chaipattana Foundation alerted the police to the gang’s activities in 2021. The fraudsters duped more than 20 victims out of a combined 1.5 million baht. The money was supposedly invested in 90 non-existent “kaem ling” (monkey cheek) projects for water retention in the Northeast. The suspects falsely claimed to represent a construction company contracted by the foundation.
Ongoing Investigations
The police continue to search for the remaining suspects and work on gathering more evidence. The case serves as a reminder for the public to be cautious when investing in projects and to verify the legitimacy of organizations and their claims.
