The Appeal Court has fined three people 500,000 baht each for running illegal tour services in connection with zero-dollar tour scams.
They were among 13 defendants in a case in which they were previously acquitted by the court of first instance, which had ruled there was insufficient evidence against them.
The three were Somkiat Khongcharoen, 58, managing director of Fuan Travel Co; Thawal Jaemchokechai, 60, an executive of Fuan Travel; and Winit Chantharamanee, 70, a manager of the firm.
The 13 defendants previously faced charges that included ang-yee (running an illegal secret organisation), conspiring to unfairly reap benefits from tourists, running illegal tour services, money laundering and causing damage to the tourism industry.
However, the Appeal Court on Thursday found only three of them were guilty of causing damage to the tourism industry in violation of the Tourism Business and Guide Act.
They were ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 baht each.
The court also upheld the the lower court's ruling on Aug 25 last year acquitting the other defendants, saying there was insufficient evidence to convict them of running illegal tour services and exploiting mostly Chinese tourists.
Instead of complaints from tourists to substantiate the allegations, the judge only saw statements from alleged victims who said they were "never forced to buy products or services" during their trips to Thailand, the court said yesterday.
Prosecutors had originally brought the case to court in October 2016, following raids on several companies believed to be involved in the country's biggest zero-dollar tour network, a coordinated scam to sell unusually cheap tour packages to tourists.
The tourists were allegedly provided free bus services through a company called OA Transport, but were forced to buy overpriced products and services from shops owned by members of the same family headed by Nisa and Thongchai Rojrungrangsi.
The goods in the shops allegedly had incorrect labels and were sold far above market prices.
