The wife of an executive in the Ufun online pyramid scheme, which conned about 14,700 people out of more than 10 billion baht, was arrested in Si Sa Ket yesterday after almost 10 years on the run.
Officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) arrested Ratthakitbovorn, whose surname was withheld, in front of a house in the northeastern province's Muang district, police said.
The woman faced two arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court on June 23, 2015, and Jan 6, 2016, for collusion in transnational crime, public fraud and money laundering.
In 2015, CPPD police raided Ufun Store Co and its network for alleged involvement in the Ufun international pyramid scheme. Many suspects were arrested, while some remained at large.
After learning that Ms Ratthakitbovorn, a key suspect in the fraud network, had fled into hiding in Si Sa Ket, police began to look for her hideout.
During questioning, the suspect denied any involvement, but police remained unconvinced. She was handed over to CPPD investigators for legal action.
In March 2017, the Criminal Court jailed 22 defendants for a total of 12,267 years.
Ufun persuaded people in 2015 to invest in fruit juices and herbal and cosmetic products, promising high returns. The network later duped people into investing in U-Tokens, a fraudulent cryptocurrency, and product purchases.
The business operated as a pyramid scheme, relying on new investors to pay those at the top. Numerous victims filed complaints with the CPPD, leading to the arrest of 164 individuals. The total damage to the victims exceeded 10 billion baht.