Opposition MP called for questioning on forex case

Pawoot says he will show investigators evidence to prove he’s not linked to scams

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has summoned People’s Party MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu for questioning about a high-profile foreign-exchange fraud case, while the politician insists he is ready to prove his innocence.

Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said on Thursday that Mr Pawoot was among many people being called in for questioning. Mr Pawoot was ordered to meet investigators on July 2 but he can do so earlier if he is ready, the minister said.

The DSI has officially taken over the case based on the large scale of the operation, and its officials will need some time to prepare charges as they have to review as many as 70,000 financial transactions, according to Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon.

The minister said investigators would determine whether videos featuring Mr Pawoot discussing forex trading constituted investment promotion, with the courts making the final decision.

The investigation followed police raids on 24 locations in Bangkok and nearby provinces last week, with many people including a politician and a well-known entertainer suspected of being involved in investment and forex scams.

Officials impounded 65 million baht in cash, gold and silver bullion, ornaments, luxury bags, guns, cryptocurrency hardware wallets, luxury cars and computers.

Mr Pawoot’s name was among those that had come up during the investigation, officials said, while stressing that he had not been formally accused of any wrongdoing.

Mr Pawoot, a list-MP with the People’s Party, said at parliament on Thursday that he had nothing to do with any scams or any Ponzi schemes and was collecting evidence to prove his innocence.

He said he was gathering data dating back five years and it would take four to five days. When he obtained enough evidence, he would meet with DSI interrogators, he said.

Mr Pawoot, who was a well-known technology and e-commerce businessman before he entered politics, said he traded gold futures as an individual investor and never persuaded others to invest with any investment platform.

Asked about reports of 28 million baht transferred into his accounts in 14 transactions of 2 million baht each, the MP said he would explain the transactions after receiving complete banking records.

Commenting on a video showing him discussing QRS Global, one of the firms under investigation, Mr Pawoot said he was only describing his personal trading experiences and was not promoting investment with the platform.

Mr Pawoot has been the point man for the People’s Party in its heavy scrutiny of the government’s 1.6-billion-baht AI Passport project, raising questions about transparency, costs and technical merits.

The government has denied that naming the opposition MP in connection in the forex trading case amounted to political persecution, but even some frustrated members of his own party have said it’s time for him to clear the air.