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Published on November 30, 2007

Suspecting there was nearly Bt1 billion in Easy Network Marketing's alleged pyramid fund the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday froze all its known bank accounts and seized about Bt90 million in cash.

DSI officers also took the firm's managing director Pathom Ansakul, 28, who is the leader of Thai Rum Ruay Party, to court for a detention application.

DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom yesterday said the firm's known bank accounts were frozen. An initial investigation found money in two bank accounts, each holding Bt40 million. The DSI seized another Bt10 million in cash from the company's safe box.

Sunai said the firm was suspected to have nearly Bt1 billion in the scheme.

Head of the DSI's Special Crime Office, Colonel Piyawat King-ket, said many people had made enquiries to the DSI, the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) and Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) about assistance for those who had invested with Easy Network Marketing.

These agencies and officials from the Finance Ministry's Off-system Finance Suppression Division had discussed the case. They had contacted the Interior Ministry to have provincial governors take complaints from the investors, he said.

Piyawat urged country investors to file a complaint along with evidence of membership in the company and their share-buying receipts at an Interior Ministry Damrongtham Call Centre or provincial hall. People in Bangkok could file a complaint at the DSI.

If sufficient evidence was found of illegal activities, the DSI would take legal action and the seized money could be paid as compensation to the damaged parties, Piyawat said.

Meanwhile, 20 DSI officers yesterday took the firm's managing director, Pathom Ansakul, to Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court to apply for the first 12-day detention period from November 29 to December 10 pending further investigation into his involvement in the suspected pyramid scheme.

Since this was a serious crime and police had 20 more witnesses to question, they asked the court not to grant Pathom bail, saying it was likely he would try to escape, tamper with the evidence or continue his controversial business.

Pathom's sister Naporn Ansakul submitted a bank account with Bt1 million as a bail deposit for Pathom, but the court dismissed her request.

The large police presence was necessary as 50 members of the company were outside the court and many continued to blame the media for presenting a one-sided view of the case. However, they did not assail the reporters as they did on Wednesday when 100 people surrounded journalists for three hours.

Pathom, who is being held at Bangkok Special Prison, said he did not know the investors would attack journalists on Wednesday and apologised on their behalf. He urged reporters who were attacked to contact the firm so that it could take care of them.

He insisted he would remain the leader of Thai Rum Ruay Party.

Piyanuch Thumnukasetchai,

Kesinee Taengkhiew

The Nation