A SINGAPOREAN MAN suspected to have headed a huge Ponzi scheme operated through Forex-3D brokerage company was arrested at Phuket airport today (Jan. 16), Matichon and Thai Rath newspapers plus Coconuts Bangkok said.
Mr. Daryl Cai Yonghui, who holds Singaporean passport number K2188535N, was arrested under a Criminal Court warrant issued on Nov. 8, 2022 just as he was about to board Scoot Airlines flight number TR659 to Singapore.
Police had earlier contacted Ms. Sarah Casinghini, a Thai-Italian model and businesswoman who is the Singaporean suspect’s wife, to talk him into surrendering.
She sent a message through her lawyer that her husband wanted to fight the case and it was arranged for him to meet the police on Jan. 13. However he did not show up with police being told he had a problem raising bail. Casinghini herself is not facing any charges.
The years-long investigation has implicated numerous celebrities accused of loaning their star power to the scam, including actress Savika “Pinky” Chaidej and Pattanapon “DJ Man” Kunjara.
Yonghui was due to meet with the DSI when he reportedly fled home to Singapore in October before returning last month without incident, sparking intense public complaints about inaction on the part of Thai authorities, Coconuts Bangkok reported today.
While dozens have been arrested in this case, police are still looking for a Hungarian national named Eddy Polgari, who along with Yonghui was a close associate of Forex-3D founder Apirak Kothi. Apirak, who was arrested exactly one year earlier, has been charged with fraud.
Forex-3D started as a brokerage company which enticed people with returns of up to 80% on minimum investments of 50,000 baht (US$2,000). Many celebrities were recruited to promote the business.
Nearly 10,000 Thais filed complaints over the Ponzi scam. A score of victims staged a 2019 protest in front of the DSI’s Bangkok headquarters, demanding it take action.
A Facebook page called Forex-3D Victims has more than 220,000 followers.
CAPTION:
Mr. Daryl Cai Yonghui upon being arrested at Phuket Airport today, Jan. 16, 2023. Photos: Matichon
Also read: New Jersey deli scam suspect arrested in Phuket
Suspect captured after managing to escape at court
2m baht reward for helping trace YouTuber accused of swindle
Victim files complaint against brutal romance scam in Philippines
2 Replies to “ Singaporean Forex-3D Ponzi scheme mastermind arrested in Phuket”