The prime suspect in the network that allegedly swindled Finnish investor Aarni Otava Saarimaa out of almost 800 million baht in bitcoin was arrested after returning to the country from the US on Wednesday night, police said.
Prinya Jaravijit was nabbed at Suvarnabhumi airport's inbound immigration zone at 11.30pm. He flew back to Thailand on Asiana Airlines' Flight OZ741 from South Korea. He was en route from the United States.
He was reported to have left Thailand after his younger brother and actor Jiratpisit "Boom" Jaravijit, also allegedly linked with the the network, was apprehended on Aug 9.
Mr Prinya was wanted on charges of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. After his arrest at the airport the suspect was sent to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) where he was quizzed all night.
CSD deputy commander Chakrit Sawasdee said officers would take the suspect to the Criminal Court Friday morning to seek his further detention.
Police are considering whether to object to bail as he poses a flight risk, Pol Col Chakrit said, adding Mr Prinya denied all charges but gave confusing accounts during interrogation.
Mr Prinya consulted with his lawyers regarding the interrogation. He was believed to be in the process of applying for bail.
His arrest came after police said on Wednesday that Mr Prinya's passport had been revoked by the Foreign Ministry.
Police stressed that if he stayed in the US he would be doing so illegally, leading to more charges and deportation.
Mr Prinya (inset) is accused of masterminding a sting that resulted in the theft of bitcoins worth 797 million baht from Finnish investor Aarni Saarimaa, right, through his investment proposals. The victim and his Thai business partner Chonnikan Kaewkasee, centre, filed their complaint with police in January.
Pol Col Chakrit said investigators have again summonsed Mr Prinya's parents -- Wisit and Lertchatkamol Jaravijit -- as well as Mr Prinya's older brother, Tanasit, to acknowledge money laundering charges next Wednesday.
The parents were said to have received 90 million baht wired from Mr Prinya.
He said Ms Lertchatkamol received money from Mr Prinya before passing it to her husband.
Mr Prinya also transferred money he received to Mr Tanasit, who distributed it to others, according to Pol Col Chakrit, who said this was money laundering.
The Finnish investor, with Thai businesswoman Chonnikan Kaewkasee, complained to the CSD in January about losing bitcoin worth 797 million baht to Mr Prinya and his group, who were supposed to invest the money in shares of three firms, including Expay Software Co, in June last year.
Police found Mr Prinya's group invited Mr Saarimaa to invest 92.69 million baht in Expay Software, 440 million baht in Dragon Coin and 264.78 million baht in companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
The syndicate allegedly did not spend the money on the agreed investments, but stole much of it.
Charges were withdrawn against stock trader Prasit Srisuwan and Expay shareholder Chakris Ahmad last month after a settlement was reached.
