On October 16th, the Thai entertainment industry was shaken by the arrest of actress Min Pechaya,
along with two other celebrities, MC Kan Kantathavorn and Sam Yuranunt Pamornmontri, and 15 others.
They were detained for their involvement in the fraudulent operations of the multi-level marketing company, The iCon Group.
According to Thairath, The iCon Group was established in 2018, attracting thousands of participants.
The company leveraged the names of famous actors, placing them in key positions to lure people into investing.
Many victims faced heavy losses, with some losing all their money due to The iCon Group’s scheme. Khaosod reported that, as of October 16th, 1,063 complaints had been filed, with total damages amounting to 400 million baht (nearly $12 million or more than 300 billion VND).
The case has been deemed serious due to the involvement of high-profile Thai stars. Notably, Min Pechaya held the position of Director of Corporate Communications at The iCon Group. In several previous events, she referred to herself as “Boss Min.”
Min Pechaya played a significant role in promoting and developing media campaigns for the company. At a press conference held on October 15th, she tearfully apologized to the public for the losses caused by the company and announced her termination of the contract with The iCon Group.
On October 17th, Min was detained and denied bail. The scandal has severely impacted her image, especially with her ongoing drama “Canh Bạc Ái Tình” currently airing on national television. On October 19th, many viewers declared their boycott of the show.
Before being caught up in the fraud, Min Pechaya had always been known for her clean image in the entertainment industry and her impressive educational background.
Born in 1989, Min Pechaya grew up in a wealthy family. Her family is renowned for its multi-industry business empire in Khon Kaen, Thailand, with a particular focus on real estate and building materials. Khaosod estimated her family’s business to be worth over 500 million baht (around 380 billion VND).
Min Pechaya graduated from Khon Kaen University in Thailand and earned a gold medal at the Chamchuri Sports Games. She also participated in a student exchange program in the U.S. before completing her bachelor’s degree at Assumption University in 2014.
Min Pechaya’s entertainment career flourished after she won the first runner-up title at the Miss Teen Thailand competition in 2006.
With her striking looks and versatile acting skills, Min made a strong impression through several popular TV dramas, such as “Nang Thip,” “Pin Anong,” “Imported Bride,” and “Spicy Couple.”
The media and her colleagues have praised her as one of Thailand’s top actresses, known for both her beauty and acting talent. In 2017, Min Pechaya was recognized as the highest-paid actress in Thailand, earning up to 150,000 baht (around 114 million VND) per episode.
After over 11 years as an exclusive actress for Thailand’s CH7 network, Min Pechaya won a total of 32 awards. In 2020, she left CH7 to become a freelance actress.
Min Pechaya also gained attention from the global media. She has attended the Cannes Film Festival in France and walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week.
Min shared that, from a young age, she had been heavily invested in education, which contributed to her success in both entertainment and business.
According to Sanook, Min is a board member of nine companies and a shareholder in 10 others, with a total stock value of 8.8 million baht (around 9.7 billion VND). Before her involvement in the scandal, she was regarded as one of the most successful businesswomen in the Thai entertainment industry.
From a hardworking and successful actress with a clean reputation, Min Pechaya now faces serious accusations. The public backlash against her began on October 16th.
While in jail, it is reported that Min, born in 1989, is very anxious and unable to eat or sleep. She has refused to speak with anyone except her lawyer and family members.
