Seven celebrities who allegedly promoted substandard cosmetics and weight loss products procured by Magic Skin Co, have been summoned for questioning at the Crime Suppression Division next Thursday.
The seven are Sarunrat "Lydia" Visutthithada, Ungsumalin "Patty" Sirapatsakmetha, Chutavuth "Mark" Pattarakampol, Apissada "Ice" Kreurkongka, Virithipa "VJ Woonsen" Pakdeeprasong, Puttichai "DJ Put" Kasetsin and Kanokchat "Typhoon" Munyad-on.
The list was announced Tuesday by deputy national police chief Wirachai Songmetta, who said the probe so far indicates that 902 victims were affected by second-rate products, which represent around 289 baht million baht's worth of sales.
In addition to the seven who are required to report to CSD investigators on May 24, Pol Gen Wirachai said police also plan to summon several other celebrities for questioning soon.
He also urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up its examination of all Magic Skin's products.
In a separate case, Pol Gen Wirachai said an examination of Lyn-branded weight loss pills indicated the pills contained sibutramine which has been linked with heart failure in some individuals.
An investigation was launched after a 31-year-old Kanchanaburi woman took the alleged pills and died last month.
According to investigators, the woman died after reportedly suffering chest pains before losing consciousness.
Also Tuesday, actress Ranee "Bella" Campen said she has not been contacted by the Consumer Protection Police Division over her supplementary food business.
The actress said all her products had been examined by the Department of Medical Sciences which had certified their quality.
Speaking during a press conference Tuesday, the FDA and the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission agreed to ban 24 supplementary food and cosmetics advertisements, now on 29 TV channels, one radio station and 10 URLs.
FDA secretary-general Dr Wanchai Sattayawuthipong said those adverts made exaggerated claims about the benefits of certain supplements.