Opposition MP among 'wanted' suspects in forex investment fraud case

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is seeking arrest warrants for 30 suspects in a high-profile forex investment case, including People's Party MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said on Monday. The 30 suspects, comprising both individuals and companies, are allegedly involved in a foreign exchange fraud that made headlines last month. On June 16, the DSI launched its "Shutdown the laundering" operation. Searches at 24 locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon broke  up a network suspected of illegally soliciting investment funding and operating a forex trading service without proper authorisation. The DSI believed the network transferred 28 million baht to Mr Pawoot, who appeared in an advertising video for QRS Global, one of the companies affiliated with the forex investment network. Mr Pawoot wrote on Facebook on Monday that he was both surprised and worried by the reports of a court warrant being sought for his arrest. He said he had given information about the case to the DSI as a witness, and had cooperated fully with investigators. He was adamant he had never been involved in any form of public fraud. He also said many people may be wondering just why the case had progressed faster than other important cases. Pawoot Pongvitayapanu (photo from his Facebook account)