Bangkok authorities have arrested a man believed to be behind a crypto investment scam that targeted both Thais and foreigners. The accused duped his victims into investing by promising high returns of up to 400 percent in just 200 days.
Fifty-year-old Mana Jumuang was arrested on Saturday morning in front of a house at Ram Intra Soi 34 in Bang Khen District, Bangkok, Thailand. An arrest warrant for the accused was issued on December 23 by the Phichit provincial court for colluding in public fraud, the Bangkok Post reported.
Pol Maj Gen Montri Thetkhan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), said that Mana Jumuang scammed both Thai and foreign investors and tried to flee with over 500 million baht or around $15 million. The accused reportedly worked with his Thai and Vietnamese accomplices to swindle investors in 2018 and 2019.
The CSD chief said that Jumuang claimed to be a crypto guru and convinced his victims to invest in Onecoin. The suspect enticed investors with promises of high returns and told his victims that they could earn 400 percent in just 200 days.
To explain the unusually high returns for the investments, Jumuang and his accomplices told investors that they run stores on a trading platform for the Onecoin cryptocurrency. These goods included cars, gold, food supplements, houses, land plots, clothes, and cosmetic products. To further sweeten the deal, the suspects even claimed that investors can get their returns in the form of gold, Mercedes-Benz sedans, and houses.
Initially, the suspect paid dividends to investors. As the number of investors increased, the suspect and his accomplished suddenly vanished along with 500 million baht from investors and could no longer be contacted.
Victims filed complaints at several stations and a warrant for Jumuang’s arrest was issued. The suspect was first arrested in May 2019 but was released on bail. However, he later jumped bail and another warrant was issued for him.
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