Scandal-Impacted Direct Sales Company Affirms Operational Status
PUBLISHED : 4 Jan 2025 at 14:09
In a surprising turn of events, numerous distributors from the direct sales company, The iCon Group, have expressed their decision to withdraw complaints against the company and its imprisoned executives. A representative known only as Ms. Pannatorn led a group of 60 to 70 distributors in submitting a formal letter to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) on Friday.
Reports indicate that some international distributors also provided documentation backing their decision to withdraw. Ms. Pannatorn stated that after careful consideration, the distributors recognized that some of the allegations made against the company were false.
She visited the OAG offices to follow up on the previous acknowledgment of the company’s innocence, having submitted two sets of letters. As the company’s representative, she sought to provide further evidence regarding the ongoing case.
Ms. Pannatorn highlighted the detrimental impact of misinformation surrounding The iCon Group, which has led to widespread apprehension among customers about product deliveries. She reaffirmed that the company is operational, with a majority of distributors still generating profits from sales.
When addressing concerns over a petition opposing bail for iCon Group executives at the Criminal Court, she emphasized that individuals have the right to voice their opinions.
Ms. Pannatorn insisted that the company is engaged in legitimate sales activities, with ample evidence ready for investigation, including products submitted to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
Regarding the anticipated number of distributors retracting their complaints, she mentioned that 200 had voiced their intent to withdraw, with approximately 2,000 witnesses offering supportive evidence for the company.
Furthermore, she noted that a group of distributors plans to return to the OAG on Monday to submit additional documentation and extend moral support for the company.
Distributors like Pornlapas Onchaiya, 62, stated that she had used the company’s products personally and found them beneficial. Initially pressured by societal expectations, she later decided to withdraw her complaint.
Another distributor, Yuwadee Thongma, 55, indicated that her complaint was motivated by fears of potential asset seizures affecting product access. However, she expressed dissatisfaction with how her statement was recorded by authorities.
The DSI clarified that the withdrawal of certain complaints would not hinder the progression of one of the nation’s most notable fraud investigations. Since October, 18 individuals have been detained on charges related to public fraud and computer crimes connected to aggressive dealer recruitment efforts.
Complainants in this prominent case allege that dealers focused excessively on recruiting new members rather than promoting products. The investigations have yielded approximately 9,000 complaints, with reported losses nearing 3 billion baht.
Prosecutors are expected to make decisions regarding potential indictments of the suspects in the coming week, according to DSI officials.
