Five more people, including a senior military officer, who claim to be victims of fraud committed by the half-sister of Monta "Ying Kai" Yokrattanakan, have filed complaints with police.
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Thitirat Nongharnpitak said yesterday they claimed to be victims of
Among them, Maj Gen Torkhun Phakdeechanok attached to the Engineers Department in Ratchaburi, recently gave testimony to investigators, regarding a TV programme celebrating the monarchy filmed at the army club in Ratchaburi.
Maj Gen Torkhun told investigators he met Ms Kamonthat at the army club where an audition for the programme took place.
Ms Kamonthat is accused of invoking the royal institution in a fund-raising scam deceiving people into donating money for a merit-making tribute by citing the royal institution following her involvement in the TV programme filmed at the club. A total of 2.97 million baht was found to be donated, police said.
Ms Kamonthat was apprehended in Nakhon Sawan on Aug 26 on charges of fraud, falsifying documents and lese majeste.
She is the half-sister of Ying Kai, who is in a remand prison on charges of lodging false complaints, human trafficking, defamation and lese majeste.
Ms Kamonthat previously spent six years in Ayutthaya prison for tricking people into believing she could secure royal decorations for them.
Earlier, five or six victims of the alleged scam lodged police complaints against her, including high-ranking military officers such as a major general and a colonel.
A police investigation into the scam is under way, Pol Lt Gen Thitirat said adding some victims are believed to be linked to the fraudulent activities.
Former palace official Thawon Puangpatum yesterday denied an allegation of colluding with Ms Kamonthat to conduct the alleged fraud, saying he was also deceived by her, Pol Lt Gen Thitirat said.