AMID ongoing investigation of The iCon Group’s direct sales business the Department of Special Investigation today (Oct. 16) seized a large plot of land the company had purchased in Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani which was intended for development of a learning centre and store all products sold online, Naewna newspaper said.
Led by Pol. Maj. Yuthana Phraedam, DSI’s acting chief for investigation, the police team posted a 300x100cm vinyl sign stating “This property has been seized by the Department of Special Investigation under the Special Case Investigation Act B.E. 2547 (2004)” at the 63-rai land plot purchased by Mr. Woratphon Waratvorakul, or Boss Paul, in the company’s name.
They were accompanied by Mr. Sittra Biabangkerd, or Lawyer Tum, and Mr. Ekkapop Luengprasert, an adviser to the Interior Minister and founder of Sai Mai Tong Rod (Sai Mai District Must Survive) community Facebook page.
Pol. Maj. Yuthana said joint investigation with Consumer Protection Police showed that three adjoining land plots were purchased for hundreds of millions baht to be used for business expansion. To be named iCon City, it was planned for the complex to have a conference hall, executive residences, an online sales learning centre and storage of all its products sold online.
Two land plots, one 30 rai and the other four rai, were bought in 2021 while the third, 29 rai plot, was obtained in 2022 for a total of 63 rai.
The seizure of the land plot falls under charges stemming from Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 (1999) and Emergency Decree on Obtaining Loans Amounting to Public Cheating and Fraud B.E. 2527 (1984) and will last until the case is concluded.
As for lawyer Sittra having given information from a witness alleging that a DSI officer had been bribed by The iCon Group, Pol. Maj. Yuthana said his testimony was not detailed and could not be verified because he only said he heard about it from someone else thus it does not carry weight. However DSI has obtained the recording of the witness’s testimony and will be launching an investigation.
CAPTION:
DSI police team seizing the iCon Group’s land plot in Lam Luk Ka, Pathum Thani, today, Oct. 16, 2024. Photos: Naewna
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