DSI holds press conference on the STARK stock fraud case, the MORE stock case, and the case of illegal pork importation

                 On Friday November 24, 2023, Police Major Suriya Singhakamol, Director General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), assigned Police Lieutenant Colonel Jukkrit Visetketgarn, Director of the Bureau of Financial-Banking Crimes and Money Laundering, and Police Major Natapol Ditsayatham, Expert in Consumer Protection and Environmental Crime, to give updates on the progress in handling 3 special cases as follows:

1.    Special Case No.59/2566 concerning the illegal importation of animal carcasses (pigs) into the country, totaling 161 containers with a volume of 4,025 tons.

a.     Due to the investigation of this particular special case, there are reasonable grounds to believe that government officials are implicated in these offenses. Therefore, the Director General of the Department of Special Investigation has decided to forward the investigation files of this special case to the Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for review and action in accordance with their official responsibilities. The team responsible for this special investigation, led by Police Captain Channarong Tubsarn, Deputy Director of Regional Operations, delivered 16 files (contained in three boxes) of the investigation to the office of the NACC Additionally, the Department of Special Investigation is extending its inquiry into the importation of an additional 2,385 containers of pork, totaling 59,625 tons. Preliminary investigations suggest that these imports may constitute criminal acts as part of an organized crime network, severely impacting food security and the agricultural sector. This criminal organization is thought to consist of three main groups: financiers, political officials, and former government officials.

2.    Special Case No. 57/2566 concerning corruption at Stark Corporation Public Company Limited. This was accepted as a special case on June 20, 2023. There are a total of 4,704 victims in this case, with the total damage amounting to approximately 14,778 million baht.

a.     Currently, the investigation is almost complete. The special case investigation team has conducted interrogations of 5 accusers and interviewed a total of 157 witnesses. They have charged 11 suspects with offenses under the Securities and Exchange Act, B.E. 2535 (1992), for falsifying accounts and financial statements, and for defrauding the public. Additionally, they are charged with offenses under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, B.E. 2542 (1999). An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr. Chanin Yensudjai to bring him to justice. Moreover, the Department of Special Investigation has handed over assets from seizures/freezes to the Anti-Money Laundering Office for actions related to the assets under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, B.E. 2542 (1999).

3.    Special Case No. 66/2566 regarding the shares of More Return PLC. during the period of 18 July 2022 - 10 November 2022 (pre-open phase), involves a group of 32 individuals who conspired to manipulate the price or trading volume of MORE securities continuously. This coordinated effort, where responsibilities were divided among the participants, resulted in damages valued at approximately 800,000,000 baht.

a.     The special case investigation team has conducted interrogations of the accusers, including the Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), authorized representatives, and ten securities companies. These companies include Krungsri Securities Public Company Limited, Kiatnakin Phatra Securities Public Company Limited, Dao Fund Management Securities Company Limited, Trinity Watthana Public Company Limited, InnovestX Company Limited, Kingsford Securities Company Limited, Krung Thai X Spring Securities Company Limited, Asia Wealth Securities Company Limited 2023, KGI Securities (Thailand) Public Company Limited, and Land and Houses Public Company Limited. Charges have been brought against 4 suspects and a total of 77 witnesses have been interviewed, including the Stock Exchange of Thailand and witnesses confirming the relationships of the suspect group. Securities company officials have submitted asset information to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), resulting in the freezing of 34 asset accounts totaling approximately 4 billion baht. Additionally, the Prime Minister has appointed police officers from the Central Investigation Bureau to assist the Department of Special Investigation in this special case, in accordance with Section 33 of the Special Case Investigation Act. A joint meeting is scheduled for next week.