Former finance secretary Anuthep out on bail

Anuthep Uthanesoot, 78, who was sought in relation to an alleged pyramid scheme by Rivergold Inter Co Ltd that reportedly defrauded people out of Bt12 million for investments in stem-cell products, was arrested at the border checkpoint near Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew on Sunday evening. 

Anuthep initially denied wrongdoing during questioning, claiming that Rivergold Inter executives had invited him to be board chairman, which he accepted under the impression that the company was a legitimate direct-sales firm. He said he quit after failing to receive his salary via normal system. Anuthep was taken to the court by police yesterday morning for approval so he could be detained for 12 days pending investigation into the case. Relatives applied for him to be released on bail and placed a property deed worth Bt5 million as collateral. The court, seeing he was elderly, had a credible guarantee and was unlikely to flee, granted him bail for an estimated Bt2.5 million.