In a case that reads like a plot twist in a high-stakes drama, the Criminal Court delivered a shocking verdict that left jaws on the floor on Thursday. Three men found themselves awash in legal turmoil as they were slapped with a gargantuan collective sentence of 49,125 years each for their roles in the infamous multi-billion-baht Forex-3D Ponzi extravaganza. Meanwhile, amidst the storm, four others, including the colorful personalities of Thai celebrities Pattanapon “DJ Man” Kunjara and the melodious Suteewan “Baitoey” Thaweesin, emerged acquitted, unscathed by the legal cyclone that threatened to topple them.
The dramatic court proceedings revolved around seven individuals enmeshed in a tangled web of deceit, promising a treasure trove of investments in the Forex-3D foreign exchange group. This ensemble cast featured Singaporean Daryl Cai Yonghui, Pattanapon, Suteewan, Chatchai “Sue” Khotchathin, Theeraphassakorn “Mark” Kimwangtako, Suranart Nakmusik, and Ayuwat Chaimethanarakul. The charges against them were as intricate as a double helix, involving accusations of weaving a tapestry of deceit by colluding to obtain fraudulent loans, orchestrating public fraud, and peppering the computer world with falsified information related to the Forex-3D endeavor.
The allegations painted a vivid picture: between November 25, 2015, and September 8, 2020, these financial barracudas allegedly lured unsuspecting prey via enticing Facebook posts, seducing a staggering 9,824 folks into parting with their hard-earned bahts—2.49 billion, to be precise. This fiscal symphony was orchestrated by Apirak Kothi, the orchestrating maestro behind this cunning caper, finally apprehended in January 2021.
In a courtroom showdown worthy of its own Netflix series, the evidence was dissected with surgical precision. While Mr. Cai, tagged as the husband of the glamorous model Sarah Casinghini, did beckon some people to the siren song of investment, there was a conspicuous absence of posts blatantly beckoning the masses. Without this, the court could not label his actions as an alluring advertisement.
The court, with the discerning eye of Sherlock Holmes, concluded that Mr. Cai’s involvement didn’t depict a dalliance with the Ponzi scheme’s mastermind. There was scant evidence to crown him as a leading player, and thus, he enjoyed the sweet embrace of reasonable doubt.
Then, under the gavel’s gaze, came the spotlight on the DJ-singer duo, Mr. Pattanapon and Ms. Suteewan. A photograph, with the uncanny ability of a thousand words, showcased them meeting with the infamous Apirak—a snapshot that could have been the smoking gun. However, the court deemed it a mere palette of personal affairs rather than a tapestry of corporate skullduggery. The photograph’s narrative was diluted by an unrelated advertising pitch for a food supplement.
The conclusion? Not a whisper or whiff that the star-studded duo had courted the public into the investment web; they, too, were bathed in the light of reasonable doubt.
Finally, the hammer fell heavy on Mr. Chatchai, Mr. Theeraphassakorn, and Mr. Suranart. Guilty, said the court, and their crime sheet read like a novel with nearly 9,825 sordid chapters. Yet, the mercy of law put a cap on their imprisonment—20 years. They were ordered to foot a restorative bill of 2.47 billion baht to the legion of their victims, with the ticking of 7.5% annual interest, retroactive from April 11, 2021.
Mr. Ayuwat, the curtain’s final act, stepped free, acquitted.
As the court’s decision echoed through the chambers, the saga’s heroes, DJ Man and his erstwhile beloved songbird, Suteewan, embraced tearfully—a poignant moment of relief and gratitude. Mr. Cai joined the chorus of tears, offering a respectful wai, enveloped by his wife’s joyous sobs.
The Forex-3D scheme, once a glittering mirage of high-return promises, unraveled its deceptive layers under the scrutinizing gaze of justice, firmly casting its net over the guilty while sparing the innocent players entangled in its intricate plot.
The acquittal of DJ Man and Baitoey is a huge injustice. How could they be so close to the scheme and claim innocence?
They didn’t actually lure anyone into the scheme. It seems like they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But being photographed with the mastermind doesn’t just happen by accident!
Innocent until proven guilty, remember? The court found no evidence against them.
The court needs concrete proof, not just associations, to convict someone. Without posts soliciting investment, they couldn’t prove intent.
49,125 years? That’s more than ridiculous. There must be a better way to punish without being so absurd.
It’s symbolic and meant to send a strong message to deter massive fraud like this.
I agree, it’s a bizarre number. Why not focus on financial penalties and reparations instead?
Exactly! And 20 years with a huge fine seems more reasonable.
I’m concerned that public figures can escape justice because of their influence. This sets a bad precedent.
If there was evidence, they wouldn’t have gotten away with it. This isn’t about influence, it’s about facts.
But how do we know their influence didn’t somehow affect the investigation itself?
This whole scheme is just another example of greed overriding common sense. People must do better research before investing.
True, but these scammers know exactly how to prey on people’s hopes and dreams.
Even smart people get duped sometimes. Confidence tricks exist for a reason.
I feel for the investors who lost everything. It’s heartbreaking to see such betrayal.
There should be stronger consumer education on these schemes to prevent such heartbreaks.
This case should end with stricter regulations on investment schemes. People don’t learn until it’s too late.
Regulation can help, but it’s not foolproof. There’s always new schemes around the corner.
I read that Baitoey always had a clean reputation. Maybe we should trust that she genuinely didn’t know.
Reputation doesn’t always reflect one’s actions, unfortunately.
People are good at hiding things when they need to.
I guess, but everyone deserves a bit of faith, right?
This should be a wake-up call to not fall for ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes. They’re never what they seem.
Feels like they went easier on the celebrities. Maybe they’d do more time if they were regular folks.
That’s a cynical view, but sadly, it might hold some truth in how the world works.
The Ponzi scheme’s impact shows just how vulnerable the financial system and its participants can be.
It’s frustrating that the actual sentence is only 20 years, despite the crazy initial figure of over 49,000 years!
Does anyone know if the 49,125 years include each charge? It feels insane.
So is this common in Thailand? Such excessive sentences seem like overkill.
The real focus should be on recovering money for the victims and ensuring crooks can’t con the masses again.
What about Ayuwat? He just walked free despite being involved. Someone explain how that’s fair.