The dispute concerning the 950,000-baht “Phra Phuttho Klang” amulet moved to television program Hone Krasae, where dealer Nut Fan Pan Tae met with complainant Coke Zero, veteran amulet authority Rak Sri-kate, and legal counsel.
Nut acknowledged making an appraisal error, stating that he acquired the statue in good faith believing it to be a genuine Mae Boonreuan consecration and would never have invested six figures had he known it was an ordinary Rattanakosin piece.
The investigation revealed that certifier Ton Tha Phrachan issued an authentication certificate relying purely on photographic submissions during seasonal flood conditions without examining the physical statue. Ton publicly acknowledged the procedural lapse, apologizing for his complacency and pledging never again to issue verification cards without hands-on inspections.
Nut presented an audio recording of a private conversation with the principal buyer, “Jua,” in which the buyer appeared to imply prior awareness that the statue was mismatched, suggesting the transaction was pursued to catch the dealer on camera. Nut questioned whether the confrontation had been intentionally orchestrated.
In response, Coke Zero maintained that he acted transparently in the public interest to highlight structural flaws in commercial certification practices, while legal representatives noted that authorities must ultimately determine whether the transaction involved deliberate fraudulent intent.
