Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has detained Chonnapat Naksua, an MP from the Klatham Party and taken him to the Criminal Court for remand in a case involving alleged money laundering and links to an online gambling network.
Investigators brought him to the DSI's Bangkok office on March 12 to formally acknowledge the charges after issuing a first summons.
Before questioning, Chonnapat told reporters he was "confident in his innocence" and said he had evidence prepared to address the allegations. He also said the matter dated back to 2019. When asked whether he was denying both charges, Chonnapat said: "Yes, yes."
According to the DSI case update, investigators took him into custody after the interview and filed an objection to bail during the investigation stage, citing the scale of alleged damages and concerns that evidence could be affected.
Chonnapat had also said he was not concerned about the earlier freezing of assets worth more than 12m baht ($356,083) by the Anti-Money Laundering Office, adding that documents were being submitted to explain the origin of the assets.
Court officials later received Chonnapat for a remand request at 2.25pm local time. His lawyer filed a bail application with security, and the court granted temporary release after finding he was not likely to abscond and had a fixed place of residence. Bail was set at 1m baht.
The court ordered Chonnapat to report every two months, barred him from leaving Thailand and instructed that immigration authorities be notified. It also prohibited any action that could obstruct proceedings or cause damage to the case, with the possibility that temporary release could be revoked if conditions are breached.
Thai enforcement activity has remained active in other parts of the market. In January, authorities in Bang Lamung district arrested 31 people after raiding an illegal gambling den in Nong Prue, seizing cash, betting equipment and CCTV systems from a rented house used for dice gambling.
The court also allowed Chonnapat to remain free during the investigation because it found he had a fixed residence and was not likely to flee
