The People’s party will replace its candidate in a Bangkok constituency after he was detained by police in connection with a major drug-related money laundering investigation, party executive member Phicharn Chaowapatanawong said today.
Phicharn confirmed at a press briefing that Boonyarit Raorungrot, the party’s candidate for Bangkok Constituency 33, covering Bangkok Noi and Bang Phlat districts, was taken into police custody earlier in the day.
Phicharn Chaowapatanawong
He said he had contacted Boonyarit in the morning to discuss his New Year campaign schedule, but was informed during the call that police were conducting a search of his residence.
Phicharn also said he had learned that an arrest warrant for Boonyarit had been issued on December 17th, on charges related to money laundering.
After learning of the warrant, a meeting of the party’s executive committee was held and it was decided that Boonyarit must be replaced immediately, to allow the accused to enter the judicial process without political interference.
“The party will not intervene in the justice process,” Phicharn told reporters, stressing the party’s zero-tolerance stance on wrongdoing.
He offered an apology to the public, particularly residents of Bangkok Noi and Bang Phlat, acknowledging shortcomings in the party’s candidate screening process.
He insisted that the party had not learned about the arrest warrant against Boonyarit prior to his detention.
Phicharn said the party will expedite the legal process to nominate a replacement candidate by the December 31 deadline.
Earlier, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau arrested two suspects in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district, in a large-scale operation targeting a drug money laundering network.
Police seized more than one million baht in cash, 16 firearms, two luxury vehicles and several high-value collectible toys, believed to have been used as assets for laundering illicit funds.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma said the arrests stem from an expanded investigation following the detention of a Laotian drug suspect earlier this year.
The two suspects were identified as board members and shareholders in four transport companies, allegedly used as fronts for laundering drug proceeds.
Investigators found that, although the companies showed no business activity since February, funds totaling more than 20 billion baht flowed through at least 50 bank accounts.
Financial records also allegedly reveal monthly transfers to Boonyarit’s bank account, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant.
