Thai Celebrities Involved with iCon Group Payments
Records indicate that a company accused of operating a pyramid scheme paid TV host Kan B80 million.
Oct 25, 2024
Actor Yuranunt “Boss Sam” Pamornmontri gives a wai as he and other suspects are taken to the Criminal Court following their arrest in connection with the iCon Group fraud case on Oct 16. Behind him, in order, are TV host Kan “Boss Kan” Kantathavorn, Tananont “Boss Mor Ek” Hiranchaiwan (white face mask), and actress Pechaya “Boss Min” Wattanamontree (hooded ski jacket). (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
The financial trail of three celebrities linked to The iCon Group reveals they received substantial payments from the online sales company, with TV host Kan “Boss Kan” Kantatavorn alone receiving close to 80 million baht.
The Anti-Money Laundering Office, alongside the police Central Investigation Bureau, has reviewed financial records for all 18 suspects in this large-scale fraud investigation, focusing specifically on the three celebrities: Kan, actor Yuranunt “Boss Sam” Pamornmontri, and actress Pechaya “Boss Min” Wattanamontree.
Initial findings from the investigation indicate that Kan received 33 money transfers from The iCon Group, totaling 79.48 million baht, deposited into his bank account from 2021 to the present. The breakdown of these transactions is as follows:
- 2021: Two transfers for 5.75 million baht
- 2022: Fifteen transfers totalling 41.83 million baht
- 2023: Ten transfers totalling 23.51 million baht
- 2024: Six transfers totalling 8.37 million baht.
Actress Pechaya received nine transfers totalling 11.39 million baht:
- 2023: Seven transfers totalling 8.54 million baht
- 2024: Two transfers amounting to 2.84 million baht.
Actor Yuranunt received 3.19 million baht through two transfers totaling 1.86 million baht in 2023, followed by an additional 1.33 million baht in 2024.
Presenter Now Considered ‘a Victim’
An insider connected to the investigation revealed that the payments received by the three celebrities appeared to represent shares of the company’s revenue, unlike the payments to other celebrities such as actor Pakorn “Boy” Chaborirak and actor-singer Pakorn “Dome” Lam, who were engaged as product presenters under annual contracts.
Pakorn, 40, met with police on Oct 14 and informed reporters that he had ended his contract as a presenter for The iCon Group and considered himself a victim of the situation.
All 18 suspects — labeled as “bosses” within The iCon’s marketing structure — were apprehended on Oct 16 after numerous fraud complaints were lodged against the company, which primarily sold health and dietary supplements. They are currently held in custody.
The iCon Group attracted a large following by offering low-cost online sales courses. However, participants were later asked to pay more to purchase products and make larger financial investments to promote and recruit new members.
The suspects, including the founder and CEO Warathaphon “Boss Paul” Waratyaworrakul, face charges of colluding in public fraud and entering false data into a computer system, which they have denied.
On Thursday, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced it would take on the suspected money-laundering aspects related to the fraud case involving the company.
That same day, police reported that 8,137 people had filed complaints, claiming losses amounting to 2.41 billion baht due to iCon’s business practices.
Source: bangkokpost.com
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