A popular actor in Thailand was recently arrested in connection with an alleged Bitcoin scam, worth almost a billion Thai baht worth of cryptocurrency.
Jiratpisit “Boom” Jaravijit, known for TV roles in hit series such as “Bad Romance The Series,” “Nang Ai,” and “Naew Sutthai,” reportedly worked with six others in luring a foreigner from Finland into wiring 787 million Thai baht (about $24 million) in Bitcoin under a promise of starting a digital currency business together.
The Finnish victim, identified as 22-year-old Aarni Otava Saarimaa, filed a complaint to Thai authorities on Jan. 30, six months after he made a deal with Jiratpisit and his accomplices, The Nation reports.
“The gang lured the victim to transfer 5,564 bitcoins to its e-wallet, claiming the payment was for the shares of three firms, including DNA 2002 Public Company Limited,” Crimes Suppression Division, Major General Maitree Chimcherd was quoted as saying. “But he never received the shares after making the transfer.”
Chimcherd said the Bitcoin was immediately converted into Thai currency and transferred to the bank account of the siblings. The amount was then divided among different gang members.
After conducting an investigation, the police were able to obtain arrest warrants for the actor and his accomplices, which included his two siblings Parinya and Supitcha. The other four suspects are reportedly entrepreneurs at the Stock Exchange of Thailand. According to the police, not all of them are currently in the country.
Police apprehended the 27-year-old actor on Thursday at Major Cineplex Ratchayothin mall in Bangkok where he reportedly had been filming a scene for a movie.
Jiratpisit, who is popularly known by his nickname “Boom,” has since been released on a 2 million Thai baht (approximately $60,000) bail under the condition that he remains in Thailand. Meanwhile, the actor’s alleged accomplices remain at large.
Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office Title has reportedly seized multiple plots of land belonging to Jiratpisit’s siblings worth over 200 million baht ($6 million) which are believed to have been acquired using the proceeds of the scam, reports CCN.
Featured Image via Instagram / jiratpisitfc (Left), Pattaya One (Right)
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter
A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.
Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.
Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.
