Police have arrested three men over their alleged involvement in a pyramid scheme run by Ufun Store Co, supposedly while they were preparing to flee the country.
Assistant national police chief Suwira Songmettha said yesterday police caught Nathee Teerarojanapong, 58, Thana Wongkham, 22, and Somchai Sirilertsuwan, 55, who are wanted on warrants approved by the Criminal Court for fraudulent loans.
Pol Lt Gen Suwira was speaking yesterday at Don Mueang airport while he and his subordinates waited for two of the suspects to arrive in Bangkok from the border provinces where they were caught.
An initial examination found Mr Nathee and Mr Thana — who are allegedly key members of Ufun — were involved in illegal promotional activities in which they lured people to invest and promised high returns on investments, Pol Lt Gen Suwira said.
There is also evidence Mr Somchai oversaw the transfer of more than 40 million baht from other members' accounts to his own bank account, he added.
Pol Maj Gen Nutthathorn Plaosoonthorn, deputy chief of the Immigration Bureau, said he received a tip-off the suspects were preparing to flee the country. Mr Nathee was apprehended yesterday at the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Mukdahan province.
Mr Thana was caught in Nong Khai province, preparing to escape to Laos, according to Pol Maj Gen Nutthathorn. Mr Somchai was arrested at Don Mueang airport last night while waiting for a flight destined for Guangzhou in China, police said.
Investigators said Mr Nathee told them he did not know the court had issued a warrant for him and was going sightseeing in Laos. Mr Nathee admitted he had invested more than 2 million baht with Ufun and invited his relatives to do so, but he denied involvement in luring investors.
Mr Somchai said he had invested 10 million baht with Ufun last August. He denied attempting to evade capture, saying he was preparing to fly to Guangzhou for a holiday, then return to Thailand on Sunday.
Mr Thana said he had invested with Ufun and taken part in promotional activities, but said he had been deceived into doing so by a senior staff member at Ufun.