Tone Bangkhae opened up after a marathon three-hour interrogation, affirming he has filed a complaint against Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat on grounds of being a state official who threatened and pressured him to repay a debt that is not his. He, along with his supporters, insists there was no directive order and is willing to swear an oath at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or any other temple. He explained that the debt arose from business cash flow issues, as sometimes selling amulets yielded no profit. He is willing to prove his innocence and earnestly apologized to Pong Suphan for causing him discomfort.
At 09:30 on 5 May 2026, Mr. Tonthong Sukkaen, known as Tone Bangkhae, aged 43, a renowned amulet expert, accompanied by his lawyer and carrying evidence documents, went to file a complaint with Pol. Lt. Col. Sakdinat Nuchang, investigative officer at Phahonyothin Police Station, to press charges against Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division, also known as Deputy Tao, for alleged threats, extortion, and hired debt collection.
Later, at 12:50, after more than three hours of questioning by investigators at Phahonyothin Police Station, Tone Bangkhae revealed that on 1 May, he had filed a complaint with Police Chief Kittirat Phanphet that Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat had threatened and pursued debt collection at the 27th floor office of the Crime Suppression Division on 17 April.
Today, he filed a complaint to press charges against Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat for being a state official who demanded or supported debt collection for a debt not belonging to him, which violates the 2015 Debt Collection Act. He also filed complaints against several individuals who allegedly supported these unlawful acts but withheld their names and numbers as these are part of the case files. He confirmed there were multiple people involved.
Regarding the circumstances, he said that on 17 April he was contacted by a person mentioned in the news (Pong Suphan). He intended to meet privately to explain the debt issues, feeling uneasy and wanting to clarify matters, not even knowing if there was a lawsuit involved.
However, he was confronted by Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat who reportedly said, "Will you talk or not? If not, leave." Although he had planned to explain the debt, such words and behavior made him uncomfortable and raised doubts about whether a state official could legitimately pursue debt collection.
Tone Bangkhae further said he did not know how Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat became involved but decided to come forward and file the complaint to protect his rights. He admitted feeling afraid and uncertain whether he would face harassment or other consequences because the opposing party is powerful. He felt pressured and uneasy and chose to bring the matter into the legal system.
He emphasized that the complaint and report were made because he had been treated unfairly. He stressed there was definitely no directive order from anyone and pledged with one million percent certainty to swear an oath at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or any temple.
Tone Bangkhae admitted he does owe debts to the creditor in question under two contracts totaling hundreds of millions of baht. He has been gradually repaying according to his business cash flow, having already paid ahead until 2027. He also provided collateral including amulets, commercial buildings, and has made monthly post-dated check payments to settle the debt.
Regarding media reports alleging fraud, default, or bounced checks, he denied these claims. He said he had never breached any loan agreements. In the past, he had debts with both private entities and banks, repaid regularly, and this can be verified by credit bureau checks. Currently, he owes only the one private creditor and has bank debts with at least two or three banks.
He explained that the large debt was due to needing working capital to sustain his amulet trading business. Sometimes, certain amulets failed to sell or yielded no profit, so reserve funds were needed. He said this is normal business practice. He added his financial status is currently stable and verifiable with no problems. He has been in business over 30 years and has previously borrowed from several creditors without issues.
Regarding bounced checks, he said if there had been problems, lawsuits would have been filed already as it is a criminal matter. Usually, bounced check issues are resolved by payment without disputes. He noted he has himself been a victim of fraud and is pursuing legal action and asset recovery as per court rulings. He is committed to relying on legal processes.
When asked about possible upcoming arrest warrants, Tone Bangkhae said he is confident he has done nothing wrong and is not worried. If warrants or cases arise, he will use legal rights to seek bail and explain facts through due process without concern.
Regarding criticism from fellow amulet experts, especially accusations of selling counterfeit amulets, Tone Bangkhae said he has spent his life building his reputation and has always sold genuine amulets. Although profits were small and growth slow, he built sustainable wealth. He admitted to some financial mismanagement and a cycle of debt requiring borrowing to fund his business.
He stated he is not concerned about his credit in the amulet community. He acknowledged this case may damage his reputation somewhat but is confident he can prove himself. He welcomed the situation as it will ultimately enhance his credibility through the truth.
Reflecting on the three-hour interrogation, he said it was tiring and stressful but he provided full truthful details to investigators about the serious issues he faced. He did not accuse anyone directly, preferring the legal process and court verdicts to determine guilt. He noted that while money, power, and influence might buy news coverage, they cannot buy the truth. He remains committed to truth and confident in proving his innocence.
Regarding Pong Suphan, a senior amulet expert involved in the case, Tone Bangkhae said he bears no ill will and continues to respect him as a senior. The incident was unforeseen and temporary. If he caused Pong Suphan discomfort, he apologized publicly and affirmed he had no intention to trouble him, concluding by respectfully bowing to Pong Suphan in front of the media.
Following this, Tone Bangkhae planned to proceed to the Office of the Attorney General to request an investigation into the behavior of the person claiming to be a public prosecutor at the scene, to verify if they are indeed a prosecutor and, if so, whether they are culpable as a state official involved in unlawful debt collection.