Arrest warrants have been issued for four Singaporeans believed to be behind an alleged transnational investment fraud that saw victims in Thailand swindled out of 200 million baht in a foreign stock trading scam, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said on Wednesday.
The four are among 32 suspects wanted on arrest warrants in connection with the presumed scam. Of them, 23 are Thais and nine are foreigners. Twelve Thais and an American actor have already been arrested.
DSI deputy director-general Songsak Raksaksakul said on Wednesday the actor identified as Derrick Mathew Keller was taken to the Criminal Court where he started his 12-day detention period. He was the latest suspect arrested in Phuket on Monday.
An initial investigation found he was an actor living in China who was hired by a Singaporean national to pretend to be the CEO of a US-based company claiming to manage assets and invest in index futures, Pol Lt Col Songsak said.
Mr Keller denied any involvement in the scam, saying he was only hired to bolster the company's credibility, Pol Lt Col Songsak said.
However, DSI investigators have evidence showing Mr Keller had connections with the four Singaporeans who are the major suspects, Pol Lt Col Songsak said, adding investors in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Thailand have fallen victim to the gang.
DSI officers found the gang had purchased a dormant US-based company that was set up about 10 years ago, and set up a website using false information to boost its credibility, Pol Lt Col Songsak said.
DSI investigators found the company had not managed assets, nor was it licensed to operate any type of securities business as claimed.
According to the DSI, the US Homeland Security Department confirmed the company had been set up in the US but it never operated anything before it was sold.
A further investigation found the suspects were allegedly involved in transnational organised crime.
Victims had been promised returns of 3% to 15% a month depending on the investment packages with ranging from a minimum investment of 1,000 US$ to 1.85 million baht, Pol Lt Col Songsak said.
About 250 people have filed complaints with the DSI, accusing the company of deceiving them into investing in foreign securities trading.
They lost a combined 235 million baht, according to information provided by the victims.
