25-10-2024 (BANGKOK) Former YouTube sensation Natthamon “Nutty” Khongchak and her mother have been apprehended in Indonesia, concluding a two-year manhunt over an alleged 2 billion bath ($59 million) foreign exchange trading fraud that targeted thousands of her followers.
The 31-year-old social media influencer, who amassed more than 800,000 subscribers on her channel “Nutty’s Diary”, was arrested alongside her mother, Thaniya Khongchak, in Dumai, a coastal city in Sumatra’s Riau province, on 18 October. The operation was a joint effort between Indonesian police and Interpol.
Thai National Police Chief, Police General Kitrat Phanphet, convened with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and Immigration Bureau officials on Thursday to discuss the high-profile case. Sources indicate that both suspects are scheduled for extradition to Thailand on Friday afternoon.
Natthamon, who initially gained fame through dance videos, allegedly transformed her online persona into that of a financial expert. She orchestrated an elaborate investment scheme that promised remarkably generous returns: 25% for three-month investments, 30% for six-month terms, and 35% for annual commitments, with monthly dividend payments guaranteed.
More than 6,000 individuals fell victim to the scheme, with many reporting they never received their promised returns. The investigation gained momentum following formal complaints lodged by victims through their legal representative, Phaisal Ruangrit, in August 2022.
The case remains active as authorities continue their search for Nichaphat Rattanukrom, Natthamon’s private secretary, who is also wanted on public fraud charges. CCIB investigators traced the suspects to Indonesia, leading to successful coordination between Thai authorities, the Indonesian embassy in Bangkok, and Interpol.
