Slice of spoils ‘went to actor’s parents’

Police have searched the parental home of actor Jiratpisit Jaravijit, a suspect at the centre of an alleged bitcoin scam, in Chon Buri after finding his elder brother had transferred 90 million baht thought connected to the fraud to their parents.

The actor’s elder sister, Suphitcha, also accused of conspiring to cheat a Finnish man and a Thai investor out of 797 million baht, told police through her lawyer she would turn herself in to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) today.

The CSD investigators suspect the 90 million baht may be ill-gotten gains from the fraud although they believe both parents had not intended to commit a crime, CSD chief Maitree Chimcherd said yesterday.

An initial check found 90 million baht held by Prinya Jaravijit, the actor’s elder brother, was wired to a bank account belonging to his mother, who later transferred 40 million baht of the money to her husband.

Mr Prinya, wanted on an arrest warrant for his alleged links to the bitcoin case, is believed to have fled to the United States.

At this stage, the parents’ accounts will be frozen pending a more thorough investigation into the family money trail, Pol Maj Gen Maitree said. According to investigators, the three siblings received portions of the money generated by the sophisticated bitcoin scam that targeted Finnish national, Aarni Otava Saarimaa, and a Thai businesswoman, Chonnikan Kaeosali.

Mr Saarimaa and Ms Chonnikan gave money to the suspects in the form of bitcoins to invest. The two were allegedly lured into investing in companies and the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The pair claimed they never received dividends or any returns from the venture.

This was because their “coins” — stored in e-wallets which were the online platform the suspects made to facilitate electronic transactions — were later allegedly sold by the suspects, which allowed them to gain, withdraw and transfer money from the sale to their own bank accounts.

According to the CSD, over 111 million baht was transferred into Mr Prinya’s bank account and more than 140 million baht to Ms Suphitcha’s.

The 27-year-old actor, known as “Boom”, allegedly received 21 million baht which police found was wired to his account. However, Mr Jiratpisit denied the accusation, saying his brother was using his account.

The CSD was gathering evidence to seek warrants for the arrest of six other suspects — four of whom are thought to have received a share of the money and another two who allegedly conspired to commit the fraud.

“This is a case which can be settled,” said Pol Maj Gen Maitree, adding he was informed talks over damages has begun between the suspects and the victims.