The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) has pressed charges against the owner of Daruma Sushi and his company in a fraud case that affected nearly 1,000 known victims.
Pol Lt Col Parinya Pala, deputy superintendent of the CPPD, on Thursday filed the cases with public prosecutors at the Office of the Attorney-General to press charges against Daruma Sushi Co and its owner, Metha Chalingsuk, 39.
Pol Lt Col Parinya said the Royal Thai Police (RTP) assigned the CPPD in June to investigate Daruma Sushi, a popular Japanese buffet restaurant chain, following accusations of fraud.
Police gathered more than 47 files with 15,000 pages of documents on the case.
Itthiporn Kaewthip, director-general of the Office of Criminal Prosecution and a spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General, said the charges are public fraud, computer crimes, money laundering and fake advertising.
Mr Itthiporn said that 999 alleged victims lodged complaints with the police. The estimated damage attributed to the alleged fraud is about 42 million baht but that does not include some 129,000 vouchers valued at about 28 million baht purchased by 33,002 customers, he said.
Police officers and public prosecutors are gathering evidence to present to the attorney general to file legal proceedings before Mr Metha's release from detention on Sept 14.
Daruma Sushi Co was registered on Jan 12, 2016, with registered capital of 5 million baht. The restaurant was highly popular, particularly for its cheap salmon sashimi and the chain expanded to 27 branches.
In January, the company announced on Facebook it was selling 199-baht vouchers for its Japanese buffet which was usually priced at 490 baht. The promotion attracted many buyers. But in June, the company and all outlets were closed.
Mr Metha flew to the United States before returning to Thailand a week later and arrested by police at Suvarnabhumi airport.