Min Pichaya and Sam Yuranun Post 3 Million Baht Bail Each, Shocked by Chain Recruitment Charges

On April 27, 2025, at the Criminal Court on Ratchadamri Road, the Special Cases Prosecution Division brought two renowned actors, Sam Yuranun Phommontri and Min Pichaya Wattanamontri, to face fraud charges related to the D-Icon case. Following this development, Witthoon Kaengngarn, lawyer for the D-Icon Group defendants, expressed surprise that both actors faced identical charges as other D-Icon suspects. The legal team learned of the charges on Thursday but remained unclear why they were being prosecuted. Witthoon stated that whether they can be acquitted depends on the court's judgment.

Witthoon suggested the court should re-examine the witnesses or question the prosecutor about the case details. He noted that while prosecutors typically don't undergo preliminary examination in such cases, the court may do so if there is sufficient cause. He emphasized he was not pressuring the court but wanted it to consider whether a preliminary hearing was warranted, pointing out that Min Pichaya served as a presenter in 2023 while Sam Yuranun became a presenter around October 2023.

Regarding the chain recruitment charges involving public borrowing, Witthoon explained that evidence had been submitted to the court. During Friday's witness examination, the Central Investigation Police testified. Witthoon revealed that the initial investigation began October 10, 2023, with arrest warrants issued October 16—a span of only 5-6 days.

Concerning the 'Dealer get Dealer' promotion scheme, Witthoon noted that the Office of Fiscal Economics initially believed participants received regular monthly payments. However, DSI investigation later confirmed payments were made only once, to those who referred new customers, not to the customers themselves. Witness testimonies consistently confirmed this single payment structure.

Witthoon highlighted a critical discrepancy: the fiscal office calculated 4 percent monthly returns (10,000 baht on 250,000 baht purchases), multiplied by 12 months equaling 48 percent annually, and with five lines of recruitment reaching 480 percent—leading them to classify it as chain recruitment. However, testimonies revealed only a single payment, which legally constitutes a commission or brokerage fee, not illegal chain recruitment.

When asked about the five charges against the actors, Witthoon stated that from a legal standpoint, they do not meet the criteria. However, once charges are filed, the court must determine which counts are valid. He noted that among the alleged 7,000+ victims, the court must determine when each became a presenter rather than simply prosecuting wholesale. Regarding the chain recruitment charge, Witthoon argued the court should reconsider whether such an indictment is appropriate, as the charges are serious.