The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has arrested 10 suspected members of an alleged fake lottery scheme gang for swindling people in Tak, Lamphun and Chiang Mai provinces out of more than 670 million baht in lottery stock investments.
All the suspects were apprehended in connection with the lottery fraud ring of Warunee Duangtasit, a suspect who was arrested in November 2013 on the same charge.
The suspects were identified as Mangkorn Phanwilai, Samorn Khamyong Phanwilai, Preeda Trong Jai, Somporn Trongjai, Kriangyot Trongjai, Pensri Fumefeai, Panthawee Pankaew, Supaporn Pankaew, Somporn Na Kham and Panthamon Saengthong Jinakart.
The arrests were carried out after Thongchai Chopradit had filed a complaint with the DSI in 2013 that Ms Warunee lured him into buying the lottery shares.
The victim said Ms Warunee claimed she received a government quota to purchase 65 sets of lottery tickets from the government as a handicapped retailer. But she did not have enough money to buy them all.
Ms Warunee then allegedly colluded with the other suspects to persuade people to invest at 38,000 baht per share, and falsely promised 1,000 baht per share would be returned as profits. But 200 baht would be deducted for Mr Preeda, Mr Kriangyot and Ms Pensri who worked as network coordinators.
However, the promised profit and investment money was never returned.
Pol Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, head of the DSI's Bureau of Special Crime 3, said Ms Warunee actually needed only 238,200 baht, or seven shareholders, to purchase 65 sets of lottery tickets. But she defrauded people of more than 670 million baht from more than 20,000 shares which was higher than the quota she received, according to victims’ statements.