Doctor wanted for scamming investors has fled to China

A DOCTOR wanted on charges of defrauding the public and money laundering with there currently being 247 victims and losses totaling 7.5 billion baht has fled to China with police coordinating with the Foreign Ministry to issue an Interpol red notice for him, Naewna newspaper and Sanook.com said today (Nov. 23).

Being chased is Dr. Boon Vanasin, founder of Thonburi Hospital and chairman of Thonburi Healthcare Group Plc which is the owner of this private hospital chain that has seven branches both in Bangkok and the provinces.

Dr. Boon has been vocal about vaccines, especially the import of Moderna mRNA into Thailand, including criticising the government’s delay in allocating imported vaccines to Thais.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Nopphasin Poolsawat, deputy commissioner of Metropolitan Police, said since the case started last Dec. when the first victim filed a complaint at Huai Khwang police station, by May this year dozens more had done so.

Initially most of the offences fell under the Cheque Act with the majority of the victims being businessmen in the medical sector who got taken in by Dr. Boon and some brokers that they were raising funds for five medical projects. These include a cancer centre in the Pinklao area, a wellness centre in Rama 3 area, three hospitals in Laos, a joint investment in a hospital in Vietnam and an IT business project.

The suspects invited a large number of investors to sign loan contracts lending money for these projects with cheques being issued to pay off the principle and interest in advance.

They were issued in the name of Dr. Boon and his wife Mrs. Charuwan, 79, with Ms. Nawara and other family members being the guarantors.

Initially the interest was paid but later this stopped with the cheques bouncing at the banks.

Metropolitan Police Division obtained arrest warrants for Dr. Boon, his wife and daughter and six others yesterday on charges of colluding to defraud the public by tricking them into investing in a medical business. Dr. Boon faced additional charges including money laundering.

At the press conference police said that projects unveiled to deceive the public did not actually exist and they were checking whether 21 land title deeds were issued from 2023 onwards. Moreover, Dr. Boon’s 19 vehicles were also missing.

They added that Dr Boon left Thailand on Sept. 29 for Hong Kong then onwards to China. They are still investigating where his wife and daughter are.

Those deceived into investing in these projects had invested 50 to 600 million baht each with 247 having filed complaints from 2023 to May 2024 for losses totalling 7.5 billion baht.

In addition to Dr. Boon, the court also issued arrest warrants for eight other suspects as follows:

– Ms. Jidapa, 53, Dr. Boon’s personal secretary;

– Ms. Siwimol, 38, manager of documents, contracts and finances;

– Ms. Charuwan, 79, Dr Boon’s wife;

– Ms. Nalin, 51, Dr. Boon’s daughter;

– Ms. Atchima, 49, an official of a securities company who raised investment;

– Mr. Pak, 36, an official of a securities company who coordinated and provided advice and invited investment;

– Ms. Phatranit, 55, a broker and investment adviser who signed as a witness in loan and guarantee agreements;

– Mr. Thanaphum, 36, an agent who contacted and invited the victims and was a witness in loan and guarantee agreements.

CAPTION:

Dr. Boon Vanasin, Photo: Thai Rath

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