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Abstract

BANGKOK — In a landmark legal move, the Thailand Consumers Council has filed a civil lawsuit against the parent companies of four major global technology platforms and nine commercial banks, seeking over 230 million baht in compensation for victims of sophisticated online investment scams. The case, filed on June 8, 2026, marks the first time Thai authorities have pursued liability directly against the overseas parent entities controlling platforms like Meta’s Facebook, LINE, Apple’s App Store, and Google’s Play Store.

The lawsuit targets a “full-cycle” scam operation where fraudsters allegedly exploited the ecosystems of these platforms and banks to defraud at least 10 consumers. The scheme reportedly began with deceptive advertisements on Facebook, often impersonating public figures, to lure victims into LINE messaging groups. From there, scammers persuaded victims to install fraudulent investment applications via the App Store and Play Store before funneling millions of baht into mule accounts held by front companies through the banking system.

“The council argues that the platforms had a duty to verify advertisers and users, as well as a duty of care to ensure digital safety, but failed to prevent repeated abuse of their systems,” said Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Office of the Thailand Consumers Council. She compared the situation to a shopping mall that allows fraudsters to operate inside without accepting responsibility for the resulting harm.

The legal action includes nine commercial banks accused of failing to detect unusual transaction patterns or suspend suspicious transfers despite their legal obligations to monitor financial risks. Among the initial group of claimants, one individual reportedly lost 165 million baht in a stock investment scam, while another lost over 3 million baht.

The Civil Court has scheduled its first case management hearing for August 3, 2026. The council hopes this lawsuit will set a new precedent for consumer protection in Thailand, forcing global digital platforms to strengthen safety standards and accept accountability for the damages suffered by Thai users who have increasingly lost faith in state agencies’ ability to provide remedies.

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The huge scheme has been a victim of the downturn in the economy and increased inflation

Plans to finally advance the delayed Pydar development in Truro have been submitted to Cornwall Council. Treveth – the council’s construction arm – has filed an outline application for up to 320 homes, 400 student bed spaces, 16,500sqm of non-residential floor space and associated works, with all matters reserved (meaning comprehensive details will be provided at a later stage).

It essentially represents a variation of the new city neighbourhood previously granted consent in 2021, but now makes it more commercially viable and deliverable in the present economic environment, while also addressing social and policy shifts.

These include the enduring impact of the Covid pandemic on Truro city centre, including diminished retail demand, altered footfall patterns, empty premises and evolving working habits, which have heightened the need to reimagine city centre usage.

The substantial development has fallen victim to the economic downturn and rising inflation. At one stage, the £170m costs spiralled to nearly £200m. Treveth now intends to deliver Pydar at between £120m and £150m.

The fresh application, for what would be termed Pydar Gardens, features the same number of dwellings, student bed spaces and quantity of commercial development as previously granted.

The application states the development “would still remain very much in the spirit of the [original] consent, through providing a major residential led, mixed use regeneration scheme.

“They will help unlock major housing delivery and job creation on a key brownfield, allocated site that has been earmarked for redevelopment for a considerable period of time. The revised illustrative masterplan, which is a realistic and viable option for the site, is also considered to be better reflective of the area in terms of layout, scale and character”.

The site covers approximately 4.5 hectares and has been fully cleared of all existing structures. It formerly comprised several car parks, former council and NHS offices, Truro Bowl, retail units on St Clement Street and vacant or partially derelict warehouse buildings.

Established streets linking Pydar Gardens to the city centre will be upgraded through improved public spaces and a stronger landscaping framework. Pydar Street and St Clement Street will serve as “key urban edges and gateways, with greener, more legible and pedestrian-friendly routes”.

Pydar Green

Pydar Green will serve as the central green focal point of the new neighbourhood: “a generous, multifunctional open space for gathering, play and relaxation. It will provide a high-quality landscaped setting that supports everyday community life, balancing open, flexible areas with quieter, planted edges and an attractive outlook for surrounding homes”.

Oak Way

Oak Way will establish a landscape-focused riverside corridor following the course of the River Allen. It will provide an accessible, wildlife-rich green pathway that encourages walking, cycling, casual recreation and daily appreciation of the riverside environment.

The proposed changes to the plans

• Development zones are organised around a central open space, with entry points from Pydar Street and featuring a one-way route linking Oak Way to St Clement Street;
• A diagonal pathway that previously connected the corner of Pydar Street and St Clement Street to the River Allen, intended as an extension to the existing retail high street, has been eliminated;
• A move away from a rigid street hierarchy towards simplified principles for access and movement throughout the site;
• No new pedestrian bridges proposed across the River Allen, with current crossings to be maintained
• The Pydar Street access point will be relocated south of the Castle Rise junction;
• The previous primary and secondary open spaces positioned to the west and east of the masterplan have been merged into a central position;
• Previously, one plot off Pydar Street was designated for educational purposes. Educational facilities are now incorporated within a mixed-use zone on the southern portion of the site adjoining St Clement Street. This change increases adaptability regarding where different functions are situated within the masterplan.

The revised approach streamlines the transitional heights between the taller four to six storey blocks, which were previously linked by one to three storey courtyards under the 2021 planning consent. This amendment is intended to facilitate the most appropriate orientation and massing at the detailed design stage.

Heights across the majority of the site will range from four to six storeys.

New pedestrian routes will provide connections between open spaces including Daubuz Moor, Victoria Gardens and the River Allen corridor.

The specifics of parking provision will be confirmed at a later reserved matters stage. However, parking plans will aim to minimise vehicle movement throughout the site.

Parking provision will also “reflect the availability of public parking within nearby city centre car parks”, despite the city’s parking capacity having diminished considerably in recent years, partly as a result of the demolition of existing car parks to accommodate this very development.