A Hong Kong businessman has sought assistance from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) after narrowly avoiding losses of nearly 200 million baht in an alleged foreign exchange investment scam orchestrated by a Thai husband-and-wife duo.
At the CIB complaint centre on Monday, a man named Daeng Phaothai accompanied 55-year-old Hong Kong businessman Chan Wai to meet investigators, seeking legal advice and providing information regarding the alleged fraud scheme.
According to Mr Daeng, Mr Chan -- described as a close friend of Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau -- had travelled to Thailand to collaborate on a film project with Thai martial arts actor Tony Jaa.
During his stay, Mr Daeng introduced the businessman to a woman identified as "Ms Cartoon" and her husband, as they were both from southern Thailand and had previously worked together in the film industry.
However, the couple allegedly later persuaded Mr Chan to invest in what they claimed was a lucrative foreign currency exchange business concession at Suvarnabhumi airport. They reportedly promised high returns, convincing the businessman to prepare nearly 200 million baht, or around US$6 million, for the investment.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Chan said he narrowly escaped losing the money after a close friend warned him that the couple were allegedly part of a notorious scam network. The friend reportedly claimed to have previously lost more than 20 million baht to the same individuals.
Further checks allegedly revealed that the pair were facing multiple fraud-related court cases in Thailand and had previously served prison sentences, prompting Mr Chan to immediately halt all financial transactions.
Mr Chan said that when he later confronted the couple, the husband attempted to distance himself from the allegations by claiming he was not legally married to Ms Cartoon and had no involvement in any fraudulent activity.
However, the businessman said subsequent inquiries showed the pair had recently travelled together on trips to Japan and several other countries, leading him to believe they were working together in the alleged scheme.
According to the complaint, the suspects cultivated a luxurious public image on social media, frequently posting photographs with wealthy socialites and senior government officials.
