"Big Turtle" is not worried about complaints from "Tone Bangkae," stating he has informed his superiors. He insists the incident was not about debt collection, warns against scheming, and says those involved know their actions well. He has not yet decided whether to file a lawsuit, dismissing the matter as involving only a small-time thief.
At 1 p.m. on 8 May 2026 at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) headquarters, Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of the CIB, commented on the conflicting interviews given by "Tone Bangkae" and "Madam Keng." He said both parties should present the facts, while the police act as neutral arbitrators. They received requests to ensure fairness for both victims and parties involved. From Tone’s interview, it seems he combined various incidents, making his statements incomplete. The actual timeline on 17 April, the first meeting day, involved Tone and his lawyer meeting with the general on the 27th floor in a room with three people. The general admitted he didn’t know all the facts then, only partial details. He made a sincere proposal to Tone, noting Madam Keng was still resolving matters, and asked if Tone wanted to talk; if not, he could leave. Ultimately, Tone agreed to negotiate since they knew each other, and the fraud case was partially negotiable.
The atmosphere then was calm, with assets valued over 50 million baht shown as compensation. There was no foul language or violence. The discussion included seven people and lasted over an hour. However, negotiations eventually broke down. At that time, the three-party negotiation figure was about 360 million baht: first, a contract for 120 million baht secured by a building, which Madam Keng and Tone settled with no outstanding issues; second, contracts for 180 million and 66 million baht, which were still unfair.
The unfair contracts involved amulets that were claimed to be worth 400-500 million baht, but actual appraisal showed only 40 million baht. Madam Keng and her lawyer proposed that Tone sell the amulets himself; whatever he earned would go to repay Madam Keng’s 180 million baht, and if he made more profit, he could keep it. However, this plan ultimately failed.
Regarding the remaining unsettled contracts, selling Tone’s existing assets to repay the debt was proposed to conclude the matter. Still, about 100 million baht remained unpaid, making the contracts unfair.
He confirmed that the 17 April meeting was initiated by Tone, coordinated through Pong Suphan, who knew both sides. Since late 2025, Tone had attempted several times to explain matters to him. He believes Pong Suphan has no vested interest in this case.
He insisted that all actions taken were not debt collection but discussions among acquaintances to facilitate talks between both parties, with no conflict involved. However, he added, "The victim side has evidence, but the question is when it will be used."
"Why would I summon him? Tone intended to explain from the start. As the case progressed with summonses and charges issued, he got nervous and coordinated through Pong Suphan. There are messages exchanged with Pong thanking him, though it’s unclear if they shared the Line clips with the media."
Regarding rumors of charges against Tone, the deputy CIB commander said he knew complaints had been filed, but whether charges would be filed depends on investigation progress. If the investigators are confident in the evidence, the process will proceed. Currently, about one or two points remain unresolved, and experts are being consulted. When Tone appeared yesterday, he showed intent not to flee but was anxious. Legally, this means he doesn’t want a warrant issued and wants to cooperate with the process. Among amulet collectors, no one wants to lose reputation with an arrest warrant or face prosecution, as it damages their livelihood.
"He came back struggling; he knows what he did and is fully aware. No need for cunning or tactics with the victim. I hope he shows some empathy and brotherhood; he would realize his dishonesty. I won’t say if he’s ungrateful, but for Thais or businessmen who have helped each other, after trading amulets or goods, they allow 10 months to pay. Once they have money and liquidity, they should pay. They’ve helped so much already. Regarding the assets he posted recently, they could be used to secure debts—they’ve been visible for 3-4 years, including luxury cars still in use. Think about whether he’s reliable with debts or not."
When asked who is lying, the deputy CIB commander said, "I check scientifically who owns the assets, whether luxury watches, cars, or current social media posts."
In this case, the first group has seven people, and the second group has two, with Tone in the second group, linked to the first. Additionally, there is another amulet collector with debts causing turmoil in lower northern Thailand, with a reputation for damaging 2-3 billion baht. He declined to expand on others but confirmed several collectors planned criminal acts by ingratiating themselves with Madam Keng. Damages with these collectors total 2 billion baht, with another 5 billion baht involving others. In reality, no one conducts transactions with this group. If intermediaries connecting Madam Keng and these collectors are found to have been involved in fraud, they will be prosecuted with evidence.
When asked about discussions with the Central Investigation Police Commander, Police Major General Jaroonkiat said he provided full details of what happened and how. The commander likely assigned officers to oversee the matter. He explained the negotiation and fairness issues and his involvement at various stages.
Regarding the two approaches set by the Royal Thai Police, if complaints arise, they will appoint a committee to investigate. He confirmed that Tone’s actions have caused damage to himself and others by spreading false and defamatory statements through public media. However, he has not yet decided whether to file a counter-lawsuit, considering Tone only a petty thief.
When asked if he felt it was a waste of effort to get involved, Police Major General Jaroonkiat said he often encounters such cases because many people seek his help. As a police officer, if he feared or ignored citizens in distress, he shouldn’t be an officer at all. He is a police officer in both body and spirit. He admitted he is still considering reforming the amulet industry to protect citizens from exploitation, as there have been numerous complaints and fraud reports across regions. Amulet collectors are influential because of their wealth. He believes superiors understand the situation and will ensure fairness.