Pathum Thani, Thailand — Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested Thanawan “Odd” Jiracharoenwet, a 43-year-old fortune teller, at his home in Pathum Thani province today, on charges of committing fraud resulting in damages exceeding 100 million baht.
The arrest follows reports from the first two victims, a 77-year-old woman and her daughter, who revealed that they had lost over 66 million baht to Thanawan’s deceptive practices. According to the victims, Thanawan had performed various rituals and persuaded them to purchase sacred items and home decorations, which he failed to deliver.
In the wake of the initial complaints, more victims came forward, claiming that they too had bought sacred objects from Thanawan, but never received their purchases. The CIB has reported a total of 67 victims, with the combined losses exceeding 100 million baht.
In an attempt to mitigate the situation, Thanawan gave a phone interview to Channel 3, during which he promised to return the money to all his clients and compensate those who had not received their items. Despite his assurances, he denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he had not cheated anyone.
However, rumours quickly spread on social media that Thanawan was planning to flee the country for China via Laos, prompting authorities to take action. The police dismissed the escape rumours and apprehended him at his home in Pathum Thani.
Upon his arrest, officers conducted a search of his residence and confiscated two cars, including a luxury Lamborghini. Thanawan admitted to renting the Lamborghini for 1 million baht per month as part of an effort to cultivate a luxurious image and appear more credible to potential clients. During questioning, he also confessed to spending much of the money he had defrauded from victims on gambling.
Thanawan now faces an initial charge under Section 341 of the Criminal Code for deceiving victims by presenting false statements or concealing facts in order to obtain their valuables. This charge carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both.
Additionally, Thanawan has been charged with money laundering, which carries a more severe penalty of imprisonment from one to 10 years, along with a fine ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 baht, or both.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify additional victims and determine the full extent of Thanawan’s fraudulent operations. Meanwhile, the public is being urged to report any similar experiences to assist in bringing justice to the affected individuals.
