Savings Group Leader Jailed for Embezzling 1.7 Million Baht

A court sentenced the chairman of a savings group to 18 months in prison after he misappropriated deposits from 170 members totaling more than 1.7 million baht and failed to repay them. The court also ordered asset seizure and sale to recover funds for the victims. Villagers expressed frustration about wanting their money back most of all.

On August 18, 2016, at Phitsanulok Provincial Court, 30 villagers from Ban Tha Chang, Thambon Tha Chang, Amphoe Phrom Phiram, Phitsanulok Province, attended the verdict after members of the Tha Chang Savings Group had their deposits misused by the group leader for personal expenses. Complaints had been filed continuously since 2020. The court ordered the defendant to compensate 1.7 million baht to 60 households totaling 170 people. Since the defendant had no funds to pay, the court sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment and ordered asset seizure and sale to repay the victims.

After the three village representatives finished hearing the verdict in court, they met with 30 waiting villagers by the Nan River in Phitsanulok, where residents expressed despair. Though the court ordered imprisonment for 18 months, what villagers wanted most was their stolen deposits returned.

Nai Theerawat Thin Thap, village headman of Moo 2, Tambon Tha Chang, revealed he came with about 30 affected villagers whose deposits were embezzled by the Tha Chang Savings Group chairman. They have struggled throughout this process and sympathize deeply with villagers unable to access their own money.

Nang Nam Fon, 67, one of the victims, stated that despite the court's imprisonment order and asset seizure for compensation, she felt deeply discouraged. As ordinary villagers, they had to follow procedures since 2020 when withdrawals stopped and complaints were filed with the Phrom Phiram District Development Office. After the group chairman admitted to using villagers' money for personal expenses and promised to repay, residents split into two groups—one that did not file charges and another that filed a criminal case. Following police investigation and prosecution, multiple settlement attempts occurred. The most recent mediation on July 16, 2019 showed the defendant still had no money, claiming land had not yet sold.

Today, August 18, 2019, the court scheduled another hearing where the defendant again had no money to repay, so the court ordered 18 months imprisonment and asset seizure for compensation. Some families whose deposits were stolen have already passed away, unable to withdraw funds for their children's education or to arrange funeral expenses for relatives. Though they struggled throughout and felt deeply discouraged, some could not withdraw funds.

Nang Om Fa, 68, stated she deposited a total of 267,000 baht and attempted multiple withdrawals but never succeeded even once. She sought to withdraw funds for her grandson's military officer examination but could not. Most painfully, when her mother died, she needed cash for funeral arrangements but could not withdraw money. When she learned the chairman had spent all the deposits on personal expenses, she joined others in filing a complaint at Phrom Phiram Police Station. Today the court sentenced him to prison and ordered full repayment.