The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has questioned about 100 victims of a high-profile foreign exchange investment scam, Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said on Wednesday.
Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said he believed the DSI would complete the questioning and evidence-gathering process before the House prorogues on Saturday.
He said he could not confirm when the DSI would file charges against individuals, although he understands the financial trail probe is quite complete now.
State agencies are expected to report the results of their investigations to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before filing charges against any suspects, he added.
On June 16, the DSI launched a search at 24 locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon, busting a network suspected of illegally soliciting investments and conducting forex trading without proper authorisation.
The DSI said later the network is believed to have transferred 28 million baht to People's Party list-MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, and that Mr Pawoot had appeared in an advertising video of QRS Global, one of the companies affiliated with the fraud network.
The DSI's findings immediately placed Mr Pawoot under scrutiny, although he has consistently denied the allegations.
Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon's latest comments came after Mr Pawoot met the DSI on Monday.
Mr Pawoot said he was ready to clarify all issues transparently and had provided evidence to the investigators, as he had complete information. "I am not a criminal. [The links] are just suspicions," he said.
