By Thai Newsroom Reporters
EX-PEOPLE’S MP Ratchapong Soisuwan who is seeking re-election in Tak and was arrested on charges of involvement in money-laundering business yesterday (Jan.14) had allegedly operated an online gambling platform which had evidently led to money-laundering activity, police said today (Jan.15).
Deputy Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau commissioner Pol.Maj.Gen.Tinakorn Rangmatya said the People’s candidate contesting the Feb.8 election in Constituency 2 of Tak had allegedly run the illicit gambling website named nakarin789.com with unnamed administrators located in the Mae Sot district across from Myawaddy township of Myanmar and been involved in the money-laundering activity based on the illegal betting business.
Ratchapong has categorically dismissed those criminal charges pressed by the police who have accused him of running the gambling platform since 2022 with a range of 300 to 400 million baht in circulated cash and opening a bank account bearing his own name to allegedly receive the transferred gambling money, according to the deputy CCIB chief.
However, the People’s candidate-turned-suspect told the police that he was only a gambler and not an operator of the online gambling platform.
Late last month, another People’s candidate, namely Boonrit Raoroongroj, had been arrested on money-laundering charges and replaced by another to contest for a constituency of Bangkok.
People’s candidate Thirawat Panyathammakul who is running in party-listed mode posted on his Facebook page today to say a few more People’s candidates might probably be arrested on similar money-laundering charges and suggested they turn themselves in to the police instead of waiting for arrest warrants and otherwise further damaging the party’s reputation during the current electoral campaign.
Nevertheless, Election Commission Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee confirmed that all criminal suspects who may be free and held innocent pending police investigation still have their electoral candidacy intact unless being put in police custody on the election date scheduled for Feb.8 or beyond.
CAPTION:
People’s electoral candidate Ratchapong Soisuwan. Above photo – Thai Rath, Front Page photo – Sanook.com
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