Icon group fraud: Celebrities Yuranunt and Peechaya to be indicted

The attorney general has finally decided to indict two former TV celebrities, Yuranunt Pamornmontri and Peechaya Wattanamontree, on five charges related to the Icon Group fraud case.

In January last year, the special case public prosecutor decided to drop charges against them due to insufficient evidence.

However, the director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, disagreed with this decision and submitted the case to the attorney-general for finalization.

In his letter of objection, the DSI chief argued that the two accused were more than just ordinary product presenters for the Icon Group.

He claimed their stage appearances were made to influence potential customers to invest in the company, and they had received significant rewards for their services.

As such, he argued they should have been aware of the true nature of the company’s business, which was essentially a Ponzi scheme.

Following the attorney general’s final decision, the special case prosecutor will summon both Yuranunt and Peechaya to acknowledge the charges against them. Meanwhile, the DSI will be required to bring them before the Criminal Court for formal indictment.

The Icon Group fraud case dates back to October 2024, when more than 2,000 alleged victims filed complaints with the police and the DSI, claiming they were duped into investing in the company’s direct sales business, which promised unusually high returns.

The total damage caused to the victims is estimated at over 840 million baht.

The case is linked to several celebrities and Thai actors. The investigation led to the court issuing arrest warrants for 18 suspects, including Yuranunt and Peechaya, although charges against them were initially dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Other suspects currently incarcerated include the company’s CEO, Waratphol Waratvorakul, and well-known TV personality Kan Kantathavorn.