On October 15, 2024, former deputy secretary of the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP), Pol. Col. Prateep Charoenkalp, addressed allegations linking him to the “Di Icon Group” scandal, where he was referred to as “angel OCP.” He clarified that the rumors stemmed from three audio clips discussing him with Bos Paul.
In the first clip, he denied being any form of angel, stating he has not been involved with the OCP since April 17, 2019. He was the first to propose an investigation into the Di Icon business back in 2018, having sent letters to three agencies: the FDA, Ministry of Finance, and police.
Regarding the second clip, where his name was mentioned in a past deputy secretary appointment, Pol. Col. Prateep called it a common “booster shot” comment, emphasizing that only a committee can appoint officials, which demeans the dignity of Thai civil servants. He recognized familiar voices in clips two and three and noted that the situation has significantly harmed his reputation, prompting him to seek legal action against those responsible.
He also addressed a photograph with Bos Paul taken when he was director of the direct sales department at the OCP, explaining it was a normal photo op, as they barely knew each other. He clarified that he has never received bribes and does not understand how the image has become a contentious issue, concluding that the photo was taken by a subordinate without his knowledge of its release.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
