AMLO clearly knows the money trail of ‘The Icon’, preparing to seize more large assets

Anti-Money Laundering Committee reveals that the Anti-Money Laundering Office clearly knows the financial path of The Icon completely. They are preparing to have the Transaction Committee consider seizing a large amount of assets. They said that it must be done in conjunction with the criminal case. The next meeting will invite the Consumer Protection Board and the DSI to provide information on how to separate the main network from the victims in order to prosecute the main perpetrators. Mr. Lertsak Pattanachaikul, MP for Loei, Pheu Thai Party, as Chairman of the House of Representatives' Anti-Money Laundering and Narcotics Committee, spoke about the results of the first meeting to consider the ICON case, saying that we invited the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), and representatives of the victims to provide information to the committee. As for the AMLO, we have been following up on asset seizures. Initially, assets were seized four times, totaling 240 m illion baht. The first seizure was made using the authority of the AMLO secretary-general under the law. After the criminal case is clear, the transaction committee will meet again and additional seizures will be made. At present, the AMLO has clearly explained that the financial trail is known, including where the money went, who it belongs to, and whether the money was transferred out before. Importantly, if the money is transferred out of the account again, it will be considered money laundering. As for the Consumer Protection Police Division, the case has now been transferred to the DSI. The DSI can use this group of police officers to help with the work. The DSI itself probably does not have enough officers to handle such a large number of cases. The D-Icon case currently has 2 parts: the criminal case is being handled by the DSI and the other part is the AMLO. The injured party must register to protect their rights. The AMLO will announce again after the criminal case is clear and the AMLO has a clear number of seizures. This part is separate from the criminal case. Therefore, the injured party who has filed a complaint will not automatically receive compensation. They will have to register with the AMLO again. As for the victims who are both the main network and were reported by Boss Paul as the perpetrators, including the general victims who applied for benefits but were unable to sell their products, today they came to provide information. I have already emphasized that you should not worry too much. For those who are the main network, some of them are the main network but withdrew 2 years ago but were prosecuted. Don't worry yet. We have to wait and see how DSI will define those who will be suspects or accused because there are many levels of membership. At this time, it has not been specified who will be the victims, but another group will be kept as witnesses in order to prosecute the main ones. Mr. Lertsak also said that the AMLO had explained that there was preparation to sell some assets or sell securities in the stock market, which caused the AMLO to see this movement. The AMLO secretary therefore used his legal authority to seize and freeze 130 million baht of assets as reported in the news before bringing the matter to the transaction committee. But now the AMLO has seen the entire financial trail, and before the incident, some executives had been transferred. However, I would like the public to be at ease. Today, no conclusion has been reached. Next time, we will invite the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and the DSI to provide clarification because there is an issue that the OCPB previously sent a letter to the Royal Thai Police in 2018, but why has the Royal Thai Police ignored it and not taken any action? This is something that we need to keep an eye on. Currently, there are charges of fraud and the Computer Crime Act, but no charges have been filed regarding the Direct Sales Act because the Consumer Protection Board has not yet expressed its opinion on this matter to the Roya l Thai Police, as the Consumer Protection Board is directly responsible for this law. If it expresses its opinion that there is a tendency to violate the Direct Sales Act or Direct Marketing Act, that would be another matter. The Emergency Decree on Borrowing Money, which is a form of fraud against the public, also needs to wait for the Consumer Protection Board's opinion. Therefore, there will be more clarity in the next meeting, which is expected to be on November 13, 2024. Mr. Lertsak also said that the conclusion he wanted was that in summary, the DSI would determine who the suspects or accused were among the entire network of The Icon because there were many levels. What level would be considered a victim? Therefore, what criteria would the DSI determine? Or who would be kept as witnesses? Who could be prosecuted? As for the concerns of the senators that the DSI will not be able to complete the case within the time frame and the statute of limitations may expire, Mr. Lertsak said that he is concerned a bout this, but this is a big issue and the public is following up on it. He confirmed that this committee will follow up until the prosecutor issues a lawsuit and the victims receive compensation. If the invitation to the agencies to clarify 2-3 times is finished, a subcommittee will be set up to continue the process so that the public and victims can exchange information with each other and it will reflect the problems to the public very well. As for whether the financial trail will reach politicians, Mr. Lertsak said that we still do not know who is involved. However, from what we have asked, the AMLO confirmed that they already know the trail, who the money trail reaches. There is no need to worry and be at ease about this matter. The second round of arrests is now the responsibility of the DSI. The next meeting that the DSI is invited to will delve into this issue. The committee will proceed step by step. Today, the AMLO is clear that after the large asset seizure, it will also be based on the criminal case. The AMLO raised the zero-dollar tour case, and a lot of assets were seized. In the end, the court dismissed the case. The AMLO may be sued in return. The AMLO must be careful in this regard. Therefore, if the criminal case reaches a point where the transaction committee is confident and can seize additional assets, it will proceed. However, it has promised that there will be another large lot. Source: Thai News Agency