DSI to probe Piya's iCon claim
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DSI to probe Piya's iCon claim

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will summon Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) spokesman Pol Lt Gen Piya Tawichai to give a statement regarding his allegations linking The iCon Group -- currently under investigation for fraud -- to the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong said yesterday the DSI director-general can invite the PPRP spokesman to explain his allegations for the sake of transparency, since the case has been accepted by the DSI for investigation.

Several of the company's leaders and executives have been arrested and charged with public fraud. The case is being investigated by the DSI as the alleged fraud affected thousands of people with damages estimated to run into hundreds of millions of baht.

On Tuesday, Pol Lt Gen Piya told reporters that at least six influential figures who helped key suspects in the iCon Group fraud case get off the hook are connected to the government, specifically the Pheu Thai Party. One of the Pheu Thai members, he said, is an MP with the initial "Mor", who holds a prominent position in the House committee on consumer protection.

Pol Lt Gen Piya called on House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha to investigate MPs who are linked to the fraud scheme. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri, which is believed to be one of the people targeted by Pol Lt Gen Piya's allegation, denied having anything to do with The iCon Group.

Pheu Thai spokesman Danuporn Punakanta, meanwhile, dubbed Pol Lt Gen Piya's claim as baseless, saying the PPRP was trying to divert public attention from its own internal divisions. The PPRP itself has been fingered as supplying "guardian angels" who looked after the company's interests for a fee. Mr Danuporn said Pheu Thai secured compensation for the victims as soon as the news about the fraud emerged.

Also yesterday, Wichien Chubthaisong, president of the Lawyers Council of Thailand (LCT), said the council has launched an ethics probe against a "social media" lawyer who claimed to be a whistleblower of the pyramid scheme. He did not name the lawyer. If an ethics violation is found, the lawyer will face punishment which ranges from a warning, suspension of practice, and removal from the list of registered lawyers.

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