The Criminal Court has sentenced Kornkanok, known as “Mae Takk,” and Karnpol, known as “Pa Beer”, to 20 years in prison and fined them and their company, K2N Gold Co Ltd, over two million baht for selling falsely advertised gold.
However, the court suspended their prison terms for five years, citing their remorse and efforts to compensate victims.
The Office of the Attorney General filed the case against K2N Gold and three defendants for fraud and violations of the Computer Crime Act, the Consumer Protection Act, and the Direct Sales and Direct Marketing Act. All three pleaded guilty.
The court found that although the gold jewellery sold was genuine, the couple falsely advertised it as 99.99% pure gold and offered free gold giveaways.
This amounted to unauthorised direct marketing, deceptive advertising, improper product labelling, and public fraud, totalling 60 counts. K2N Gold, Karnpol and Kornkanok were each fined 675,000 baht, and the couple were sentenced to 20 years in prison.
However, the court noted the defendants had accepted responsibility, recovered products worth 82 million baht from 3,929 customers, and refunded 57 million baht to 1,610 customers.
They also deposited funds with the court to reimburse 36 remaining victims. Considering their cooperation, the court suspended their sentences for five years.