***File Photo***Tags: [photograph, court, criminal case]
The Criminal Court sentenced Prasit Jiawkok to an additional 1,244 years in prison for fraudulently selling tour packages to the public and deceiving them into investing money. The court also fined three companies a total of 93 million baht. The sentence is consecutive to seven prior criminal cases already decided by the court.Tags: [court ruling, fraud, prison sentence, investment scam, tourism fraud]
At 1:00 p.m. on 11 Nov 2026 GMT+7, in Criminal Court courtroom 714, the court announced its verdict in case number Atty52/2568. The Economic and Resource Crime Prosecutor 1 sued Mandawit Tour Co., Ltd., Nuea Lok Co., Ltd., Web Sawasdee Public Co., Ltd., Mr. Prasit Jiawkok, former chairman of the Return to the Nation project, and Mr. Kittisak Yennanont, vice chairman of M Group, as defendants 1 to 5. They were charged with colluding in defrauding the public and violating the Computer Crime Act. Defendants 1 to 3 had Prasit and Kittisak listed as authorized directors.Tags: [court session, defendants, economic crime, fraud charges]
The defendants jointly deceived the public by selling various levels of tour packages and fraudulently soliciting investments, claiming a 20% annual return. This caused 311 victims to trust and invest money in the packages and schemes. Initially, defendants 1 to 4 denied the charges, but during witness testimony, defendants 1 to 4 withdrew their previous denials and pled guilty. Defendant 5 maintained denial throughout.Tags: [investment fraud, victims, plea change, court testimony]
The court considered testimonies and evidence presented. The prosecution’s witnesses testified truthfully without fabricating accusations against the defendants. Given defendants’ guilty pleas, the court found defendants 1 to 4 guilty as charged for multiple distinct offenses and imposed separate punishments for each.Tags: [court findings, evidence evaluation, guilty plea, multiple offenses]
The court sentenced defendants 1 to 4 for jointly obtaining money fraudulently from the public, the gravest offense, and fined companies 1 to 3 for 311 counts at 600,000 baht each, totaling 186 million baht. Defendant 4 was convicted for 311 counts and sentenced to 8 years per count, totaling 2,488 years. Due to their confessions, the court reduced sentences by half, leaving fines for companies 1 to 3 at about 93 million baht each, and defendant 4’s prison term at 1,244 years. However, by law, defendant 4’s imprisonment is capped at 20 years and the sentence is to run consecutively with seven prior cases previously adjudicated by the Criminal Court. The defendants must also repay the 311 victims with 7.5% annual interest. Defendant 5, Kittisak, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence and his consistent denial. The court gave defendant 5 the benefit of the doubt and dismissed the case against him.Tags: [sentencing, fines, prison term, restitution, acquittal]