Tone Bangkae Files Complaint Against Big Turtle Over Debt Collection Threats, Denies Any Official Order

Tone Bangkae, a well-known amulet trader, filed a complaint against Deputy Police Chief Charuneekiat Panakaew and associates at Phahonyothin Police Station, accusing them of using their authority to threaten and coerce debt repayment with his actual creditor, and canceling an original debt agreement dated May 1st.

After three hours of questioning with investigators at Phahonyothin Police Station on May 5th, Tone Bangkae revealed to the media that he filed charges against Deputy Police Chief Charuneekiat Panakaew for state officials demanding or facilitating debt collection on debts that are not theirs, violating the Debt Collection Act. He stated there are multiple individuals involved in supporting this wrongdoing but declined to name them due to the ongoing case.

Tone explained that on April 17th, he was contacted by fellow amulet trader Pong Suphon to privately discuss his debt situation. However, when he met Deputy Police Chief Charuneekiat, the officer allegedly said "Do you want to talk or not? If not, get out," which made him uncomfortable and suspicious about whether state officials can legally pursue debt collection.

Tone admitted he does owe debts to the creditor across two contracts worth hundreds of millions of baht, which he has been gradually repaying. He has paid ahead until 2027 and provided collateral including amulets, commercial buildings, and post-dated monthly checks. He firmly denied allegations of fraud or debt evasion, confirming he pays his debts and bank loans normally, verifiable through credit bureaus.

Regarding his high debt levels, Tone explained he needed working capital to circulate his amulet trading business. Sometimes amulets don't sell well or are unsold, requiring additional capital to maintain operations. He emphasized this is normal business practice and that his current financial status is stable after 30 years in business.