In a legal saga that has captivated the nation, the celebrity couple Pattanapon “DJ Man” Minthakhin and his talented singer wife, Suteewan “Baitoey” Kunchorn, have found themselves at the heart of a courtroom drama reminiscent of a blockbuster thriller. Amidst the twists and turns of justice, these two have emerged among the fortunate few, acquitted alongside two others in a high-stakes Ponzi scheme trial. However, the plot thickens as they await a final resolution in the Supreme Court, where clearing their names could lead to compensation for their time unjustly spent behind bars—a sweet, albeit belated, reward for their endurance.
Now, let’s talk numbers, because life’s offerings in the form of compensation are laid out by the letter of the law: for every day of wrongful confinement, an unlucky soul is entitled to a modest 500 baht. Tack on up to 40,000 baht for any medical expenses they may have racked up, plus a reimbursement for income lost during that pesky period of detention. And as a cherry on top, legal fees up to 30,000 baht are covered as well—because everyone knows justice comes at a price.
Our DJ Man spent a hefty 570 days watching the sun rise and set inside four walls, while Baitoey, his other half, clocked 191 days. This case was the court’s initial ruling. Prosecutors, however, have 30 days to lodge an appeal, sparking a countdown of sorts in this judicial chronicle.
The trial spotlight illuminated seven key players, including Pattanapon and Suteewan. Other cast members included Singaporean citizen Daryl Cai Yonghui, Chatchai “Sue” Khotchathin, Theeraphassakorn “Mark” Kimwangtako, Suranart Nakmusik, and Ayuwat Chaimethanarakul. They faced charges as daunting as they sound: colluding to defraud, public fraud, and tampering with computer systems—all wrapped around the convoluted Forex-3D scheme.
The prosecution painted a picture of deceit; between November 25, 2015, and September 8, 2020, the defendants allegedly lured unsuspecting investors via Facebook into a web spun around foreign exchange promises. People flocked in their thousands—9,824 to be precise—entrusting their hard-earned money, which amassed a staggering total of 2.49 billion baht, into the enticing yet treacherous Forex trap.
But hold your judgment—it turns out, not all that glitters leads to conviction. The court, in its infinite wisdom, discerned that while Mr. Cai had indeed courted some investors, he hadn’t quite mastered the art of the social media invitation. His clean digital slate meant his actions didn’t amount to advertising. Judging this and more, the judges found no threads linking him to Apirak Kothi, the alleged maestro orchestrating this high-profile Ponzi performance.
Back to DJ Man and Baitoey—one photo, one snapshot moment with Mr. Apirak himself, simply wasn’t enough. The court ruled it a matter of personal curiosity rather than a conclusive business connection, thus granting our pair the benefit they had eagerly awaited.
Justice, however, wound its coils tight around Chatchai, Theeraphassakorn, and Suranart, sentencing each to an eyebrow-raising 49,125 years in prison—one for each wrong they’d committed in this sordid saga. Yet, here’s the catch: law limits a 20-year cap on time served. And Ayuwat? He walked free, presumably amidst sighs of relief and a crowd of congratulatory embraces.
As the curtain slowly closes on this act of legal drama, the final verdict is yet to be inked in the annals of the Supreme Court, leaving our celebrity couple poised between hope and uncertainty. Their next appearance could well be the finale to a narrative filled with suspense, intrigue, and finally, redemption.
It’s a tragedy how easily celebrities can exploit the system for sympathy. Just because they’re famous doesn’t mean they deserve special treatment.
I disagree! Everyone deserves justice, famous or not. We should be celebrating their acquittal as a victory for fairness!
But how ‘fair’ is it really when they had that influence to start with? Makes you wonder about others less ‘glamorous’ stuck in a similar situation.
I agree with Max. Justice must prevail for everyone. Let’s not judge them too harshly just because they’re in the public eye.
The real issue is the compensation rates for wrongful imprisonment. 500 baht a day? That’s an insult!
You’re right, it’s a pitiful amount especially when considering what they could have earned outside. It’s time to update these outdated laws.
It may not be much, but it might encourage the system to be more cautious before incarcerating people wrongly.
The focus should be on how these scams rope in thousands of victims. Education and vigilance is where we need to act!
Exactly! It’s mind-boggling how 9,824 people fell for this. We need better financial literacy programs.
True, but social media glamorizes these schemes. Influencers should be more responsible with what they promote.
Couldn’t agree more. We’re in a digital age where one click can ruin lives, including those of the influencers.
When are we going to start holding celebrities accountable like everyone else? They shouldn’t be given an easy pass just because of a little publicity!
I still have faith in the judicial system. Sometimes the process is slow, but it’s designed to ensure fairness for everyone.
How did they even get wrapped up in a Ponzi scheme? Sounds fishy to me! Where’s the accountability from their management or advisors?
The whole thing is just a circus. They’re free because they’ve got good lawyers, plain and simple.
And those lawyers cost money! A reminder that justice isn’t free. Ordinary folks might not fight to this extent.
Or maybe they were truly innocent? It’s easy to blame the attorneys rather than consider they were wrongly accused.
I don’t even get why they brought in the computer systems charge against some of these guys. Clearly, the law needs to catch up with tech realities.
I swear, with sentences like 49,125 years it’s almost like a slap on the wrist! Why even bother with crazy numbers… just stick to the 20-year cap!
This whole saga sounds like the plot of a crime thriller movie. Can’t wait for the inevitable film adaptation!
I hope justice for the victims isn’t lost in all this celebrity drama. They deserve to be compensated too.
Honestly, I think the court made the right call. A single picture doesn’t mean you’re in on the crime.
But sometimes it’s the little things that matter. Like who you hang out with says a lot about your values.
Agreed with Joe! Innocent until proven guilty should always be the mantra. Let’s not get carried away with conspiracy theories.
Maybe we shouldn’t rush to conclusions about DJ Man and Baitoey. Let’s see what the Supreme Court decides.
Why do these stories always seem to involve so many foreigners? It kind of undermines the local systems, doesn’t it?