Bangkok: "Yi Tankhun" has formally petitioned the Finance Committee to launch an investigation into four Forex brokerage companies, citing concerns over their alleged connections with notable figures such as "Phawut" and "Film Rattapoom". Ms. Siriwan Prasatchatru, the First Vice Chairperson of the Finance and Fiscal Affairs Committee, received the complaint from Mr. Tankhun Jittisara, President of the Peace and Democracy Club, along with Mr. Witthoon Kengngan, a lawyer, urging scrutiny of the brokers and their financial dealings.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Tankhun emphasized the need for an investigation into the foreign exchange trading market due to numerous individuals being misled into investing by illegal brokers. He pointed out the lack of regulatory laws by the Bank of Thailand to support such activities, branding them illegal. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has extended its probe to encompass criminal groups and scammers leveraging this avenue for money laundering, which jeopardizes Thailand's financial stability. Assets owned by high-profile figures like Mr. Pawut Pongwitayaphanu, a list MP from the People's Party, and Mr. Rattapoom Tokongsap, a former actor, have been seized. Mr. Tankhun highlighted the close connections between these individuals and the implicated brokerage group, with damages reportedly reaching billions of baht. The DSI has classified the case as special, intending to file charges under the Computer Crime Act due to misleading advertising. Despite not directly soliciting investments , the deception and resulting damages warrant charges of public fraud, considering various related laws.
The petition also urges the committee to devise measures to safeguard victims. This includes tracking payment trails linked to foreign investment platforms and investigating the persistent transfer of funds to these platforms. Key questions raised include the responsible agency for verifying facts in this context and whether the government has adequate measures to shield citizens from risk, particularly if foreign platforms are internationally blacklisted but remain accessible to Thai citizens.
Additionally, Mr. Witoon, representing victims, identified four brokerage firms-HFM, QRS Global, Gfox, and Eterwealth-involved in the alleged fraudulent activities. He suggested that IQ Option, a company engaged in gambling-like trading, should also be examined by the government. He urged the committee to scrutinize the payment system, as policies from the Bank of Thailand and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) pertain to the oversight of brokerage firms potentially operating beyond their registered activities.