\nBoth sides complete witness hearings<\/p>\n
The court heard evidence from the plaintiffs\u2019 witnesses between late May and mid-June 2026.<\/p>\n
The witnesses called by the plaintiffs included Yiam Yukanthoratham, Worapong Suthanon and Piyachon Jaijongkit.<\/p>\n
The defendants presented their witnesses from late June until mid-July 2026. They included Nattapong Thongkaew, Muhammad Ikram Zafar, Thomas Keller, Somchai Yuangkan, Bryan Campbell and Nareerat Phothikun.<\/p>\n
After completing the examination of witnesses from both sides, the court scheduled the judgment hearing for December 21.<\/p>\n
The ruling will mark a major stage in a business dispute that has continued since early 2025.<\/p>\n
\nDispute follows end of 35-year business relationship<\/p>\n
The conflict between Swiss food and beverage group Nestl\u00e9 and the Mahagitsiri family, which helped establish domestic Nescaf\u00e9 production in Thailand, has become one of the country\u2019s most closely watched corporate disputes in recent years.<\/p>\n
Their business relationship lasted for approximately 35 years through the joint venture Quality Coffee Products.<\/p>\n
It eventually ended in multiple legal proceedings in Thailand and overseas, covering civil and criminal cases as well as complaints submitted to regulatory authorities. At least 10 separate matters have reportedly arisen from the dispute.<\/p>\n
In another case before the intellectual property court, Chalermchai sued Nestl\u00e9 directors and executives over alleged breaches of their duties.<\/p>\n
Those allegations include the improper charging of distribution fees, the unlawful allocation of marketing expenses and commercial activities allegedly competing with QCP. The amount in dispute in that case is approximately 21.975 billion baht.<\/p>\n
The separate 100-billion-baht lawsuit concerns allegations that the Nestl\u00e9 group pressured the Mahagitsiri side to sell shares at a low price, failed to honour the joint-venture agreement and intentionally made it impossible for QCP to operate, thereby damaging its share value.<\/p>\n
\nNestl\u00e9 affiliate files separate THB577m claim<\/p>\n
A Nestl\u00e9-affiliated company has, in turn, filed a lawsuit against Prayudh Mahagitsiri and others.<\/p>\n
The company alleges that the defendants exercised their rights in bad faith and concealed material facts when seeking an interim protection order, causing damage to Nestl\u00e9.<\/p>\n
The amount claimed in that case is approximately 577 million baht.<\/p>\n
An interim order protecting Nestl\u00e9\u2019s trademark rights remains in effect until the relevant case reaches a final conclusion.<\/p>\n
\nCriminal and regulatory complaints also filed<\/p>\n
The Mahagitsiri side has also filed a criminal complaint with the Economic Crime Suppression Division.<\/p>\n
The allegations concern fraud, failures to record company accounts properly and the alleged non-disclosure of distribution fees and marketing expenses.<\/p>\n
Complaints have also been submitted to the Department of Business Development, requesting an examination of alleged accounting irregularities and a shareholding structure that may potentially involve nominee arrangements under Thailand\u2019s Foreign Business Act.<\/p>\n
The Mahagitsiri side has additionally asked the Department of Special Investigation to accept the matter as a special case.<\/p>\n
A complaint has also been submitted to the Federation of Accounting Professions seeking an investigation into the professional ethics of QCP\u2019s auditor.<\/p>\n
All the claims described remain allegations by the parties and are still under consideration by the courts or relevant authorities. No final determination has been made on the substance of most of the disputes.<\/p>\n