Thai footballer “Lee So” Thirathep has denied any involvement with the company Diacon Group, stating he is a victim who invested over 200,000 baht with a sponsor. He expressed surprise that a photo of him with Boss Paul, welcoming him to the Diacon family, was used for company promotion on social media.
On October 15, 2024, following social media criticism triggered by the photo, Lee So went to a police station to clarify his position as a victim. He clarified he had no affiliation with the company and had never sold products, feeling misled by the company regarding information.
He explained that he opened an account to help a friend and was persuaded to consider a health product investment. Upon visiting the office for a discussion that he thought was related to his wife’s ATK business, he was instead encouraged to buy dietary supplements, believing the company was credible due to flashy cars and a VIP setup. Ultimately, he spent over 220,000 baht on stock he never received.
Further investigations revealed the company sold products online at lower prices to dealers, making direct retail to consumers challenging. Lee So never referred anyone else or attempted to resell products.
Regarding the photo with Boss Paul, he mentioned they met for the first time at the office, where he was asked to take a picture. He did not know this image would be used to promote the company.
Lee So admitted to feeling sympathetic and wanting to support his friend, leading to his investment decision. Meanwhile, lawyer Kan Jompalang commented that former executives need to provide information to assist in investigations, as evidence from sponsors could implicate high-ranking officials in the company.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
