All 35 suspects allegedly part of foreign "call centre" rackets have been indicted of criminal conspiracy, a charge that carries a heavier penalty than public fraud - the charge that should actually have been pressed against them, a senior official from the Department of Special Investigation said yesterday.
The public fraud charge requires personal accounts from all victims, but since most of the victims are also foreigners, the DSI could not contact or interview them in time to press the public fraud charge against the suspects, Songsak Raksaksakul said.
Criminal conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and/or a Bt17,000 fine, while the public fraud charge subjects violators to a maximum fiveyear prison term and/or a Bt10,000 fine.
Songsak said the 35 suspects, mostly Taiwanese, Chinese and African nationals, were indicted by the public prosecutors and that it would take up to two years before they are convicted.
"The swift action of the police and the lengthy court process could somewhat slowdown these people's operations in Thailand," he said.
DSI and the police are also monitoring former Thai officials who provide logistical support for these groups, he added