Scam victims urge faster DSI probe
Victims of a pyramid fraud scheme yesterday lodged a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), asking it to step up its efforts to probe eight companies that allegedly conned more than 100 people out of 10 billion baht.
Led by the head of the Anti-Pyramid Scheme Association, Samart Janechaijit-wanit, about 100 pyramid scheme victims gathered at the DSI office in Lak Si district to submit a letter to DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang yesterday, asking him to order his subordinates to speed up the investigation.
Mr Samart said the victims had been duped by eight firms into investing in them, promising them good returns on their investment which they failed to deliver.
The companies are KS Marine and Phoenix Co; Digital Crown Holding Co, Siam Grande, Global View Consulting Co, 9Topup Co, Welfare and Cremation Association and Police Citizen Newspaper, PMB Pegasus (Thailand) and Pegasus Bullion Co and DT Ten Ten Co, Mr Samart said.
The DSI has accepted the pyramid schemes allegedly run by seven of the companies, excluding DT Ten Ten Co, as special cases, he said. But the victims wanted the DSI to accept the remaining company as a special case too.
The victims asked to meet officials and handed over more evidence to investigators overseeing the probe, Mr Samart said.
Piyasiri Wattanawarangkul, director of the DSI Bureau of Special Crime 2, received the letter on behalf of the DSI chief.
Mr Samart said pyramid schemes run by these companies come in various forms and were rampant in several provinces. They had claimed two lives and inflicted financial losses on many people.
Two pyramid scheme victims committed suicide by hanging themselves due to financial losses caused by the scams, he said. Authorities must arrest the culprits and return the money to the victims, Mr Samart said.
Responding to the complaints, Mr Piyasiri said an investigation into the alleged eight companies is underway and the DSI was making progress.
Authorities have arrested several suspects including foreigners connected to the pyramid schemes and seized more than 50 million baht from them, he added.
The victims have also petitioned Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya to take action.