A Thai political candidate has been arrested and accused of taking part in an online gambling network and money laundering.
Ratchapong Soisuwan, parliamentary candidate for the People’s Party for Thailand’s upcoming general election in February, has been accused of being linked to an online gambling operation through the website nakarin789.com.
Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) raided Soisuwan’s home in Bangkok, along with two more addresses, which led to the arrests of Somphot Kaewprasit and Kanchana Namhong.
According to local media, funds from the gambling operation were traced to a bank account under the name of Soisuwan
In response to the news, the People’s Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut reiterated his party’s zero-tolerance stance against any form of corruption or illegal behaviour.
During an emergency press conference held following news of the arrest, he emphasised to the media that the party would not shield any member accused of wrongdoing or attempt to halt any judicial processes.
The People’s Party is currently edging a tight lead in the polls for the election, however, the arrest of Soisuwan will no doubt be a setback for the party and will likely be fatal for his chances of running for election.
With distrust in government already at elevated levels following a myriad of issues over the last year – should the People’s Party achieve success at the election, they will likely be on the frontfoot when it comes to thwarting the grey market.
Ruengpanyawut has underpinned that they will focus on eradicating links to the grey market from the government and called on the authorities to ensure strict action is taken against any politicians with criminal links to activities such as money laundering or online gambling networks.
A string of scandals
This is also not the first time that high-ranking officials have been caught up in online gambling scandals.
Last year, Narote Piriyarangsan, the son of a former Thai senator, was arrested in connection with online gambling and money laundering related to the gambling website 69pgslot.com.
Meanwhile, Police General Surachate Hakparn was dismissed from the police force amid an investigation into alleged links to an illegal online gambling network.
These cases, both of which are still ongoing, as well as the most recent allegations, will do little to ally the anti-gambling stance of Thailand’s leaders.
Last year saw hope that casino gaming may be regulated by the former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. However, she was ousted from power in August amid the country’s ongoing border conflict with Cambodia and her casino bill was eventually withdrawn.
Her replacement, Anutin Charnvirakul, has reiterated his opposition to gambling legalisation, most recently reassuring China’s premier Xi Jinping in a bid to reestablish a positive relationship between the two nations.
The People’s Party leader, Ruengpanyawut, has also previously spoken out against casino legislation.
