DSI wraps up probe into 2 scams

The Department of Special Investigation will submit the findings of its probe into a lottery quota scam targeting teacher cooperatives in Loei to public prosecutors on February 20, director-general Tharit Pengdit said yesterday.

The DSI will also submit the results of its probe into an iPhone5 pyramid scheme to public prosecutors next week.

The lottery quota scheme allegedly scammed more than Bt20 billion from more than 2,000 victims, mostly government teachers and officials at 18 major cooperatives, including the teacher cooperative and networks in 11 provinces. The DSI is still collecting information about the other cooperatives and will submit it later.

Srisuk Rungwichai, believed to have profited from this scheme, has surrendered without invoking his immunity as a senator.

The mobile-phone scam reportedly cost 20 victims, mostly university students, Bt300 million. The victims demanded that relevant agencies investigate the finances of the family of suspect Phruet Jarukokha-kul, to find more money gained from the scam, and return it to the victims.