Police to quiz nine celebrities over fraud
Prison term and fines expected, if guilty
Police have summoned nine stars for interrogation next week for advertising the substandard cosmetic and weight loss products of Magic Skin Co. If any wrongdoing is found, the women face multiple charges.
National police chief, Gen Wirachai Songmetta, identified the nine yesterday as Ornapa “Ma” Krisadee, Apinya “Saipan” Sakuljaroensuk, Pitchanart “May” Sakhakorn, Jessie Ward, Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul, Orapan “Aoffy Maxim” Dansiriwattanakun, Rachwin “Koy” Wongwiriya, Sakolrat “Four” Woraurai, and Nontaporn “Yae” Teerawatanasuk.
They were summoned for questioning at the Crime Suppression Division.
Gen Wirachai said the stars might have breached the cosmetics act by using misleading information to promote products.
They’re also suspected of breaching the food act by falsely presenting the properties of food supplements, along with other unauthorised advertising of products.
The offences carry penalties of up to a year in prison and/or fines up to 100,000 baht.
They could also be charged with computer crime for putting fake information into computer systems, liable to a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of 100,000 baht, the police chief said.
“The initial interrogation will be about the intention of product reviews. If any of them clearly violated the above mentioned laws, decisive legal action will be taken,” he said.
Gen Wirachai said most of the stars were paid six-digit amounts to review the products. The police were questioning the stars to find if they had endorsed the products with the knowledge about their substandard quality and possible harmful effects. “If so, they would face swift legal action,” Gen Wirachai said.
Evidence showed that a further 59 stars and artists did the same, harming up to 500 people with damages estimated at 100 million baht, he said.
On Sunday, police raided a factory in Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang district after arresting eight suspects the day before suspected of selling Magic Skin Co products with the trademarks Apple Slim, Slim Milk, Snow Milk, Fern, Magic Skin, Shinoshi, Treechada and Mezzo.
Each of these products carried either a fake FDA certificate or the wrong certificate.
Gen Wirachai said earlier that Slim Milk and Snow Milk products contained only powdered milk.
Meanwhile, Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers yesterday urged the authorities to stop accepting online requests from companies and private individuals seeking legal registration of their cosmetic products.
She said the producers should seek the registration in person with state agencies and submit proof which details the manufacturing process.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should also open up its database for people to check what products have been granted permission for advertising. It is important for consumers to see for themselves whether the wording in the advertisement permitted by the FDA mirrored or differed from what has been advertised in public, she said.
The public access to the database would deter unscrupulous firms or individuals from making untrue or exaggerated claims about their products.