- Photo: The Nation/ANN
BANGKOK: The wife and daughter of Dr Boon Vanasin, founder of Thonburi Hospital and chairman of the Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG) board, were denied bail in a public fraud case.
Boon’s wife Jaruwan Vanasin, 79, and daughter Nalin Vanasin, 51, were taken into police custody after hours of interrogation on Saturday (Nov 23).
Arrest warrants were issued for all three, along with six other suspects, in connection with allegations of public fraud linked to medical-related investments.
Jaruwan and Nalin surrendered to authorities on Saturday and were interrogated since yesterday afternoon.
The questioning process was intense, focusing on issues related to loan agreements, cheques, money transfers, stock transfers, room rentals, document signatures, and other matters totalling more than 50 questions, police said.
During the interrogation, both suspects, accompanied by their legal counsel, reviewed the evidence presented... Additionally, they requested medication for chronic illnesses nearly every hour throughout the proceedings, police said.
The investigators transferred the suspects to Phya Thai Police Station for detention. Further interrogation is scheduled for later on Sunday (Nov 24).
Additional topics require investigation before a decision is made to submit the suspects for pre-trial detention at the Ratchada Criminal Court on Monday morning.
The remaining six suspects have already been arrested.
Pol Maj-General Attaporn Wongsiripreeda, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, said that efforts to apprehend Dr Boon, 86, who is reportedly in China, are underway.
The authorities have contacted the Foreign Affairs Division to seek a red notice from Interpol and facilitate his arrest and extradition.
Regarding concerns whether Thailand has an extradition treaty with China, officials confirmed that such a treaty exists but applies primarily to severe criminal offences.
Fraud cases, like this one, may or may not meet the criteria. If a red notice is issued and Dr Boon is located, Thai authorities would provide to China evidence, case details, and records of damage, the officials said.
Further arrest warrants are being prepared, focusing on brokers who encouraged victims to invest or take loans.
Investigations revealed that many victims were persuaded by these brokers, who had a longstanding relationship and financial ties to Dr Boon.
These brokers earned commissions or a share of the profit from investments and are therefore implicated in the case.
The number of additional warrants will depend on the number of victims who come forward and identify the brokers involved.
Police have urged victims of Boon and his associates to report to their local police stations without fear, as this case is being treated as criminal fraud, not a civil matter.
Investigators said that from December last year to October this year, they had received complaints from 527 people who said that they were unable to cash the cheques issued by the suspects.
The victims said that in February 2023, Boon advertised via an online channel five medical investment projects in Thailand and overseas, attracting hundreds of investors who believed in Boon’s credentials and experience in the medicine industry.
Boon and others reportedly raised funds by issuing money lending contracts to victims, promising to return their investment plus interest in the form of cheques.
Whistleblower and media proprietor Sondhi Limthongkul claimed that the damage caused by Boon’s scam could exceed 8 billion baht. - The Nation/ANN
