Investigations into the alleged travel fraud case have panned out, with money laundering added to the list of charges and the arrest of the importer of the food supplements sold by the company, police said on Saturday.
Pasit "Shogun" Arinchalapit, executive director of Wealth Ever Co Ltd, was arrested in Ranong province on April 13 after her company left 2,000 people stranded at Suvarnabhumi airport on the previous day for a non-existent trip to Japan. Eight people connected to Ms Pasit were also detained.
On Sunday, Pol Maj Gen Suthin Puangsap, chief of the Crime Suppression Division, said the Anti-Money Laundering Office was checking the money trails.
"We're trying to wrap up total damages. So far, 430 people have filed complaints, seeking damages totalling 16 million baht," he said.
The investigators are also preparing to charge Ms Pasit and her group with money laundering, he added.
As well, consumer protection police summoned Metawat Bhakaravikolthorn, 46, manager of Allysian Marketing (Thailand) Co Ltd for questioning after finding the firm had sold food supplements under the Mastermind and Genesis brands without permits, an offence Mr Metawat admitted to.
Police also could not find a licence to import such products with the Food and Drugs Administration.
He will be charged with importing food for sale without a permit under the 1979 Food Act, punishable by imprisonment not more than three years and a fine up to 30,000 baht, or both.
He will also face the charge of using incorrect labels under the same law, punishable by a fine up to 30,000 baht.
Ms Pasit and her group already faced charges of public fraud, criminal association, collaborating to fraudulently borrow from the public and computer crime.
Ms Pasit allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme through Wealth Ever Co, luring people to be members, buy the food supplements and recruit new members, in exchange for incentives such as a luxury cruise trip and a cheap trip to Japan.