BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai rapper Prinya “Way Thaitanium” Intachai was set to appear before police over an allegation that he defrauded a businessman of 10 million baht in a failed stock-trading venture.
Police confirmed summons after complaint
The Economic and Cyber Crime Division (ECD) confirmed on Sunday that a summons for Way had been prepared after a well-known businessman filed a complaint two months earlier. The complainant accused the artist of persuading him to invest in a stock-trading business that never materialised, involving a total of 10 million baht (about 250,000 euros).
“We have prepared the investigation report and will issue the summons.”
said Police Major General Thatphum Charuprach, ECD commander.
Separate from wife’s large-scale fraud scandal
Police stressed that the new allegation was separate from the major scandal surrounding Way’s wife, actress Rybena “Nana” Intachai. She was suspected of defrauding friends and fellow celebrities of nearly 200 million baht (about 5 million euros) and had been released on bail.
Two investigative tracks against the rapper
Investigators were pursuing two lines of inquiry involving Way Thaitanium. The first concerned the standalone 10-million-baht complaint by the businessman, while the second examined whether the rapper had been involved in his wife’s alleged fraud schemes.
To clarify this, officers were analysing financial flows and transaction records.
“After the review, we expect a clearer insight.”
said Police Colonel Nittichot Phenchamrat, deputy ECD commander.
Cooperation through legal representatives
According to police, Way had so far shown cooperation, but only through his lawyers. Investigators had already coordinated communication with his legal team.
Authorities said the businessman’s case did not qualify as a public lending fraud because only one victim had come forward, but the amount involved and the seriousness of the allegation were sufficient to justify a formal summons.
Shock waves in Thailand’s music scene
Way Thaitanium was widely regarded as an icon of Thai hip-hop, shaping the country’s music scene for years with his group “Thaitanium”. The new accusations sent shock waves through the industry, leaving fans questioning how the star became entangled in such disputes.
The scheduled questioning on Tuesday was expected to show how he would respond to the specific charges and whether further damaging revelations might follow.
Next steps for prosecutors and police
After taking his statement, investigators were to decide on further action, including a possible indictment if the evidence was deemed sufficient. At the same time, inquiries in the case of his wife were continuing at full speed.
Should links between the two cases emerge, pressure on the celebrity couple could increase significantly, ensuring that the affair would remain a staple of Bangkok’s gossip columns for some time.