Prosecutors to Rule on Forex Fraud Charges Against Pawarud and Film
Prosecutors will decide October 5 whether to charge 34 forex fraud suspects including MP Pawarud Pongwitthapanu and entertainer Film Rathapoom Toakongthrap with conspiracy, money laundering, and operating an unlicensed trading scheme.
Prosecutors from the Office of the Special Prosecutor are preparing to announce their decision on October 5 regarding charges against 34 forex fraud suspects, including MP Pawarud Pongwitthapanu and former entertainer Film Rathapoom Toakongthrap. The charges include conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering, and computer data manipulation related to an unauthorized foreign currency trading scheme. Prosecutors spent approximately three hours on September 24 processing documentation with the suspects, who are accused of operating an unlicensed forex trading business and defrauding the public. Both Pawarud and Film denied wrongdoing, with Film stating he had no involvement with the implicated company and never solicited investors, while Pawarud claimed all financial records are transparent and included in the case file. Pawarud indicated he will request prosecutorial review, citing technical complexities in the case, and suggested his status as an MP may have drawn increased attention, though he denied the case is politically motivated. When asked whether the charges aimed to reduce his role in investigating AI passports, Pawarud acknowledged opening the initial investigation but noted his party's team later joined the effort.
