Former "Nen Kham" gets 114 years for cheating

14 Sept 13:03 Key points summarised by AI

Former monk Wirapol Sukphol, known as Nen Kham, received a 114-year sentence for defrauding the public, violating the computer act, and money laundering.
Nen Kham deceived 29 individuals into donating 28.6 million baht by falsely claiming the funds were for constructing the "world's largest emerald Buddha statue" and other projects, none of which were ever built.
The court ordered Nen Kham to repay the 28.6 million baht to his victims, though his actual jail term is capped at 20 years under Thai law.
The case gained notoriety in 2013 when photos of Nen Kham as a "jet-set monk" surfaced, leading to his flight to the U.S. and subsequent extradition.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Today 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.