Bangkok: "Chonnapat" appears to acknowledge charges of money laundering and gambling website; he reiterates his confidence in his innocence.
According to Thai News Agency, at the Department of Special Investigation, Mr. Chanonphat Naksua, a Member of Parliament from Songkhla Province and a member of the Kla Tham Party, was summoned by investigators to acknowledge charges of "jointly organizing, enticing, advertising, or directly or indirectly persuading others to participate in gambling that is not authorized by officials, and jointly engaging in money laundering." This follows the issuance of the first summons, after evidence linked him to a large online gambling network with a turnover exceeding 1 billion baht.
The investigating officer scheduled an appointment for 10:00 AM. However, Mr. Chanonphat did not contact the officer at that time. Closer to 11:00 AM, Mr. Chanonphat's lawyer contacted the investigating officer, and an agreement was reached that he would be granted bail if he appeared. At 11:00 AM, Mr. Chanonphat appeared in the DSI parking lot and entered to meet with the investigating officer. He briefly told the numerous waiting media representatives that he was confident in the evidence and his innocence. He stated that the summons was for an old incident from 2019 and that he was ready to provide information to the authorities and was not worried. Regarding the seizure of his assets by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), he said he was ready to gradually provide explanations about all seized assets and was not concerned.
Currently, Mr. Chanonphat is meeting with investigators to be informed of the charges against him. He will be questioned on several issues related to him. Police Lieutenant Colonel Khemachat Prakaihongmani, Director of the Technology and Information Crime Division, is receiving him.
Regarding Mr. Chanonphat's case, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has already seized assets on two occasions. The first time involved 68 items worth 158 million baht, which was then forwarded to the prosecutor to request a court order for seizure. Most recently, at the AMLO board meeting on March 10th, an additional 12 items, valued at 12 million baht, were seized in Mr. Chanonphat's case.