US academic in limbo in Thailand over royal insult case, family says

Due to allegations of imperial attack, Paul Chambers lost his job, passport, and visa.

Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, is widely known in academic circles for his research on the military’s influence in Thai politics. (Photo: Thai Lawyers for Human Rights)
Paul Chambers, a teacher at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, is well-known in scientific circles for his research on the influence of the military on Thai politics. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights ( Photo )

As his lawful situation continues in a situation that has sparked problem in the US government, an British scholar is still in Thailand after prosecution dropped charges against him of insulting the king, his relatives said.

In a unique lese-majeste case involving a stranger, Paul Chambers, a professor on political science, was detained next month. According to a complaint made by the nationalist troops, he may spend up to 15 years in prison.

His brother, Kit Chambers, told Reuters,” He’s never allowed to leave the country, we’re not sure exactly why.” His nephew said that although his home in the US, including his 85-year-old family, believed that he would return home, he is still in legal limbo.

Although the state attorney dropped its claims two weeks ago, police was still pursue the case, which includes a cost of computer crime.

Mr. Chambers, 58, lost both his work and his work visa, and his card was taken. He contests his departure, has filed an appeal against the forfeiture of his passport, and denies the allegations.

According to a Chambers attorney, the allegations stem from a blurb from a speech at an online educational seminar. A research academy with a presence outside of Thailand was the subject of the paragraph next year.

political problem

As Bangkok seeks comfort from President Donald Trump’s export taxes, Mr. Chambers ‘ case was heighten tensions between Thailand and the US.

According to Kit Chambers, the case has attracted “very senior-level interest” from US authorities, who declined to name the officials he had spoken with.

These top officials “reassured me that if this problem is not resolved quickly, it could have an impact on trade deals with and/or Thailand,” he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio just criticized Thailand’s imprisonment of at least 40 Tamils to China and imposed restrictions on some Thai leaders.

The Chambers court’s impact on bilateral relations was not discussed by a State Department spokesperson, but the agency was awaiting a decision from the authorities to carry out the prosecutor’s request and soon dismiss the case. The event “reaffirms our long-standing concerns about the use of lese-majeste regulations in&nbsp, Thailand,” according to the office.

The Thai Foreign Ministry and the US Trade Representatives ‘ Office declined to comment. A request for comment was never received by the White House.

Due to the ongoing legal procedure, Paul Chambers declined to get interviewed. The University of Narasuan declined to comment.

A lese-majeste law critique of the Thai monarchy, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai academic at Kyoto University, argued that Chambers ‘ case demonstrated that the lese-majeste legislation was” a legal tool that inflicts punishment by process” and could “paralyse life.”

” The harm is now done… his career has been disrupted, his constitutional position left in purgatory, and his ability to move freely properly revoked,” Mr. Pavin said.

A spokeswoman for the Thai government did not respond to a request for comment on Mr. Pavin’s claims right away.

Taboo debate

Police have the right to contest the prosecutors ‘ decision to drop the case. If so, the attorney general of Thailand would have the final say, according to Yaowalak Anuphan, the attorney general’s representative in charge of Mr. Chambers ‘ legal team.

She said,” The criminal case is never finished already.”

A police officer with knowledge of the situation, who declined to be identified because they were never permitted to speak to the media, claimed the situation was still being looked into.

The lese-majeste regulation has long been forbidden in open discussion.

The group that lost the Thai election in 2023 due to its legal battle wasdissolved last year by a court. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, 281 people have been accused of lese-majeste since anti-government protests in 2020 that included calling for the law to be overturned.

Among the 92 cases that judges have heard since then, the party reported that 53 ended in prison phrases and 14 ended with suspended sentences. In 18 situations, charges were dropped.

His brother said that Mr. Chambers ‘ household only wants him to return home as soon as possible.

He added,” Another worry is that this time around, when he is only in purgatory, there could be more false accusations against him.” That would place him right again where he started.

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Disgraced Wat Rai Khing abbot disrobed over B300m embezzlement

Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, 70, disgraced abbot of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom, wears a white cloth after he was disrobed on Thursday night for allegedly embezzling 300 million baht from temple funds to gamble online. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
After being reportedly embezzled 300 million baht from church money to gamble online, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, 70, is the disgraced bishop of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom. He was disrobed on Thursday evening. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

As police expand the inspection and uncover more information about gambling sites and those involved, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, the disgraced priest of Wat Rai Khing in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom state, has been disrobed for supposedly embezzling 300 million ringgit from church money to gamble online.

In front of a Buddhist memorial at 8.42pm on Thursday, the 70-year-old bishop of the renowned Buddhist temple actually disrobed from the monastery in front of members of the press.

On Thursday, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, known as” Chao Khun Yaem,” turned himself in to Bangkok officers as they approached him to request an arrest warrant for allegedly extorting money from the church.

The original priest, whose real name is Yaem Inkrungkao, admitted to transferring hundreds of millions of ringgit to a minute think, a close female associate, in 2021 during police interrogation.

According to the police investigation, funds were transferred from the monument’s bank account to his personal profile and then to the woman’s. She is suspected of running gaming sites.

A search operation at Wat Rai Khing was led by Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, the deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ), on Friday, expanding the investigation’s scope to include additional data on financial connections to gambling platforms.

Officials examined four places, three inside the church grounds and one outside. Their main concern was the original abbot’s religious home, which he also held as chancellor of Ecclesiastical Region 14. Police were assisted by the temple’s associate priest in gaining access to the original abbot’s living quarters during the hunt.

Police on Friday searched the monastic living quarters of Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, abbot of Wat Rak Khing in Nakhon Pathom. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Authorities searched Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, the priest of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom’s religious residence on Friday. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

For investigation, they seized some paperwork, including a laptop, mobile telephones, and other electronic devices.

According to Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat, the hunt was intended to question people who held those addresses and gather information about the money path to another bank accounts. The officers may concentrate on cash transactions made through gaming websites.

According to reports, the original bishop had requested a fellow priest to give money to the nearby women affiliate in order to add credit to a gambling website. The victim’s account was allegedly accessed by at least 31 million baht, despite the disappearance of the other monk, who was a member of the same monk’s group.

Aranyawan Wangthapan, 28, was detained by police on Thursday in connection with the incident. Prior to being detained last year for allegedly working with the Lagalaxy911 gaming website, Ms. Aranyawan was eventually released on bail.

Three businesses reportedly laundered money through this betting website, according to the woman, were connected to them. Police claim that over 800 million ringgit had been circulated between the three companies over the past five decades.

According to the authorities, Ms. Aranyawan acknowledged during questioning that she had known the original Wat Rai Khing priest since she had attended Wat Rai Khing School. In 2021, she had initially borrowed 40 million ringgit from him to invest. She had since then gotten in touch with him often via phone and video calling.

Police arrest Aranyawan Wangthapan, 28, a female associate of the abbot of Wat Rak Khing, in Pattaya on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Aranyawan Wangthapan, 28, a female affiliate of the bishop of Wat Rai Khing, is being detained by police in Pattaya on Thursday. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

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Premchai reports to police over Bangkok tower collapse case

BMA results page to the state audit agency, and authorities seize for additional inquiries.

Premchai Karnasuta (centre) is released from Thong Pha Phum jail on Oct 17, 2023, after serving a jail term on hunting in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Thong Pha Phum district in Kanchanaburi province. (Photo: Piyarach Chongcharoen)
After serving a jail term for hunting at Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi province on October 17, 2023, Premchai Karnasuta (centre ) is released from Thong Pha Phum jail. ( Photo: Piyarach Chongcharoen )

About 10 different people, including Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Plc ( ITD), reported to the police on Friday over criminal charges stemming from the collapse of Bangkok’s State Auditing Office building, which left 92 people dead.

The 71-year-old design mogul was in a chair at Bang Sue police station to combat costs of professional carelessness causing death.

The ITD executive vice president, Kriengsak Kovadhana, and expert Pimol Charoengying, who certified the initial design, were also among the people who turned themselves in.

They were one of 17 people wanted on suspicion of playing a role in the 30-storey building’s dangerous March 28 decline. After investigators discovered that the tower’s design lacked safety standards and even had poor materials, warrants were issued.

Nine people are still missing from the fatal decline, which was caused by an earthquake in northern Myanmar.

On Monday, City Hall officials, volunteer rescue workers, and related parties pay tribute to the victims of the Chatuchak district of Bangkok's collapsed State Audit Office ( SAO ) building by placing flowers and standing in mourning. ( Photo: Chatuchak District Office )

On Monday, City Hall officials, volunteer rescue workers, and related parties pay tribute to the victims of the Chatuchak district of Bangkok’s collapsed State Audit Office ( SAO ) building by placing flowers and standing in mourning. ( Photo: Chatuchak District Office )

The building’s principal company is the ITD-CREC joint enterprise. CREC stands for China Railway No. 10 Thailand.

The 2.1 billion-baht building blog in Chatuchak district was officially declared the end of the hazard zone by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on Thursday, and the place was then handed over to representatives from the State Audit Office.

As the studies are still being conducted, Bang Sue police main Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee then seize the page.

Bang Sue officers place is in charge of the location of the building.

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Disgraced Wat Rai Khing abbot disrobbed over B300m embezzlement

Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, 70, disgraced abbot of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom, wears a white cloth after he was disrobed on Thursday night for allegedly embezzling 300 million baht from temple funds to gamble online. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
After being disrobed on Thursday evening for supposedly embezzling 300 million ringgit from church funds to overspend online, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, 70, is the disgraced bishop of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

As police expand the inspection and uncover more information about gambling sites and those involved, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, the disgraced priest of Wat Rai Khing in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom state, has been disrobed for supposedly embezzling 300 million ringgit from church money to gamble online.

At 8.42 p.m. on Thursday, the famous Buddhist temple’s bishop, who is 70, was ceremoniously removed from the monastery in front of a Buddhist memorial in front of a Buddhist statue.

On Thursday, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, known as” Chao Khun Yaem,” turned himself in to Bangkok officers as they approached him to request an arrest warrant for allegedly extorting money from the church.

The original priest, whose real name is Yaem Inkrungkao, admitted to transferring hundreds of millions of ringgit in 2021 to a second think, a near female associate, during police interrogation.

According to the police investigation, funds were transferred from the monument’s bank account to his specific profile and then to the woman’s. She is suspected of running gaming sites.

A search operation at Wat Rai Khing was led by Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, the deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ), on Friday, expanding the investigation’s scope to find more data on financial connections to gambling platforms.

Officials examined four places, three inside the church grounds and one outside. Their main concern was the original abbot’s religious home, which he also held as chancellor of Ecclesiastical Region 14. During the hunt, the temple’s associate abbot helped police gain access to the original abbot’s residences.

Police on Friday searched the monastic living quarters of Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, abbot of Wat Rak Khing in Nakhon Pathom. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Police searched Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, the bishop of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom’s religious residence on Friday. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

A laptop, mobile phones, and other electronic gadgets were taken for evaluation, along with some other documents.

According to Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat, the research was intended to identify clues about the money path to another bank accounts, and authorities would awaken those responsible for questioning them. The soldiers may concentrate on cash transactions that were related to online gaming.

According to reports, the original priest allegedly requested a fellow priest to give the adjacent women associate money to add credit to a betting website. The victim’s account was reportedly accessed by at least 31 million baht, despite the disappearance of the other monk involved in the reported embezzlement.

Aranyawan Wangthapan, 28, was detained by police on Thursday in connection with the incident. Prior to being detained last year for allegedly working with the Lagalaxy911 playing website, Ms. Aranyawan was released on bail.

Three businesses reportedly laundered money through this gaming website, according to the woman, were connected to them. Over 800 million baht had been circulated between the three companies over the past five weeks, according to authorities.

According to police, Ms. Aranyawan acknowledged during questioning that she had known the original bishop of Wat Rai Khing since she had attended Wat Rai Khing School. She had initially borrowed 40 million ringgit from him in 2021 for purchase. She had since then gotten in touch with him often via phone and video calling.

Police arrest Aranyawan Wangthapan, 28, a female associate of the abbot of Wat Rak Khing, in Pattaya on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

On Thursday, authorities in Pattaya detained Aranyawan Wangthapan, 28, a woman associate of the priest of Wat Rai Khing. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

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Premchai, 14 others report to police over Bangkok tower collapse case

BMA results page to the state inspection agency, and authorities seize for additional inquiries.

Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, reports to Bang Sue police on Friday. (Photo: Police via Wassayos Ngamkham)
Italian-Thai Development Plc’s President, Premchai Karnasuta, speaks with Bang Sue authorities on Friday. ( Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham Police )

14 different people, including Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Plc ( ITD), reported to the police on Friday over criminal charges stemming from the decline of Bangkok’s State Auditing Office building, which left 92 people dead.

The 71-year-old building mogul was in a chair at Bang Sue police station to combat costs of professional carelessness causing death.

The ITD executive vice president, Kriengsak Kovadhana, and architect Pimol Charoengying, who certified the original design, were also among the people who turned themselves in.

They were one of 17 people wanted on suspicion of allegedly playing a role in the 30-storey building’s dangerous collapse on March 28. After investigators discovered that the tower’s style lacked safety standards and even contained poor materials, warrants were issued.

Nine people are also missing, and 92 have been killed in the dangerous decline, which was caused by an earthquake in northern Myanmar.

Noppasin Poonsawat, lieutenant director of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said “expert assessments revealed that the structural design did not comply with governmental regulations or fulfill the professional standards outlined in the terms of reference.”

According to Pol Maj Gen Noppasin, there were also abnormalities in the construction materials used, including poor cement and steel, and forged signatures were also discovered.

He claimed that two more defendants did report to authorities on Monday and that the 15 defendants have been taken to court for pre-trial trials and have denied all costs.

On Monday, City Hall officials, volunteer rescue workers, and related parties pay tribute to the victims of the Chatuchak district of Bangkok's collapsed State Audit Office ( SAO ) building by placing flowers and standing in mourning. ( Photo: District Office of Chatuchak )

On Monday, City Hall officials, volunteer rescue workers, and related parties pay tribute to the victims of the Chatuchak district of Bangkok’s collapsed State Audit Office ( SAO ) building by placing flowers and standing in mourning. ( Photo: District Office of Chatuchak )

The building’s principal specialist is the ITD-CREC joint enterprise. CREC stands for China Railway No. 10 Thailand.

The Chatuchak district’s 2.1 billion-baht building site was officially declared safe by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on Thursday, and the place was handed over to State Audit Office members.

The page was finally taken as the studies are still being conducted, according to Bang Sue officers captain Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee.

The Bang Sue police station is in charge of the castle place.

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Klatham seen as prepping for coalition rift

Klatham Party de facto leader Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser to the party, greets dairy farmers at parliament on March 24. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
Klatham Party de facto leader Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser to the party, greets dairy farmers at parliament on March 24. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

The Klatham Party’s luring of MPs from other political parties is a calculated move to boost its bargaining power as well as to support the Pheu Thai Party in case the latter severs its political ties with Bhumjaithai, according to political observers.

Klatham’s rise on the political scene is being closely watched after leader Narumon Pinyosinwat confirmed this week that more than 10 MPs from various other parties are expected to defect to it soon.

MPs are not legally proscribed from switching parties while serving unless they are expelled.

Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, said the recruitment of MPs by Klatham is a medium- and long-term plan to increase its political leverage to secure more cabinet posts.

“The party definitely wants more power to bargain for more ministerial seats. Although the MPs can’t simply switch parties, they can still vote as instructed by Klatham when key legislative drafts such as the budget bill are put up for a vote in the House of Representatives,” he said.

Mr Stithorn said Klatham aims to be a medium-sized party after the next polls, which means it will be a deciding factor in the formation of a government if no party secures a decisive win. An early House dissolution will give the party an advantage, he added.

“However, Klatham is speculated to join hands with the Pheu Thai Party after the next polls unless the latter fails to meet its target,” he said.

In the long term, the party is being built to support its chief adviser, Capt Thamanat Prompow, in case the Shinawatra family washes its hands of politics, according to the analyst.

Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University, said Klatham has started its move of luring MPs after its candidate Kongkiat Ketsobat recently won the by-election in Constituency 8 in Nakhon Si Thammarat with 38,680 votes — the party’s first success in the province.

The party has figured out how to manoeuvre and is capitalising on the growing tensions between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai to strengthen its position as potentially the third-largest party in the coalition government, he said.

According to Mr Olarn, the tension between the two parties has prompted politicians in the so-called ‘uncle’ parties to reflect on their careers and decide that they have to start looking for new parties to ensure their political survival. The term refers to the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties.

“With Klatham growing and being an ally of Pheu Thai, it has more leverage and can expect to get more ministerial posts. The MPS who are seeking new parties see this as an opportunity,” he said.

He added that Pheu Thai, which is struggling politically, will also benefit from Klatham’s rise as the latter can penetrate the provinces that the ruling party has failed to tap into.

Mr Olarn said Klatham can secure more than 30 seats in future elections because it has vast resources at its disposal and it has apparently found a strategy to counter Bhumjaithai, as seen in the outcome of the recent by-election in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Constituency 8.

Progressive Movement core member Pannika Wanich said Klatham’s announcement about defectors is a move to bargain for cabinet seats. But she expressed doubts that the party can lure as many “cobra MPs” to successfully snatch the coveted interior minister post away from Anutin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai leader.

She also harshly criticised the PP’s Chon Buri MP Krit Chevathamanon for severing ties with the party and demanded he be expelled over a conflict of ideology. Ms Pannika said the MP was elected because of the party but has since betrayed voters.

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Thailand’s Klatham Party seen as prepping for coalition rift

Klatham Party de facto leader Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser to the party, greets dairy farmers at parliament on March 24. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
Thamanat Prompow, the party’s general director, welcomes dairy farmers at legislature on March 24. ( Photo: Apichart Jinakul )

Social observers believe that the Klatham Party’s enticing of MPs from various political parties is a calculated move to strengthen its bargaining power and help the Pheu Thai Party in the event that the latter breaks its ties to Bhumjaithai.

After head Narumon Pinyosinwat confirmed this week that more than 10 MPs from several different parties are expected to fault to it soon, Klatham’s fall on the social scene is closely watched.

If an MP is expelled while serving, they are not officially prohibited from changing events.

The appointment of MPs by Klatham is a moderate- and long-term strategy to increase its social leverage in order to fill more government positions, according to Stithorn Thananithichot, chairman of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute.

More governmental seats are undoubtedly a discount for the party. The MPs may still cast their votes as instructed by Klatham when important legislative proposals, such as the budget bill, are up for a vote in the House of Representatives, he said.

If no gathering secures a significant gain, Klatham will still be a medium-sized group after the next elections, which means it will be a deciding element in the formation of a state. He added that the group will benefit from a party’s first dissolution.

Klatham is rumored to ally with the Pheu Thai Party if the latter doesn’t fulfill its goal, he said.

In the event that the Shinawatra community becomes embroiled in politics, the group is being built, according to the researcher, to help its main director, Capt Thamanat Prompow.

After Kongkiat Ketsobat’s victory in the by-election in Nakhon Si Thammarat with 38, 680 vote, the group’s first victory in the state, said Olarn Thinbangtieo, a teacher in political science at Burapha University.

The group has figured out how to maneuver and is making the most of the growing conflicts between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai, he said, to strengthen its position as the coalition’s potential third-largest party.

According to Mr. Olarn, the conflict between the two parties has caused politicians in the so-called” brother” parties to indicate on their careers and decide to start looking for new parties to confirm their democratic survival. The functions of Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation are referenced by the name.

Klatham now has more influence and is able to expect to win more governmental messages because of its growth and alliance with Pheu Thai. This is an opportunity for the MPS who are looking for fresh events, he said.

He added that Klatham’s rise may help the political struggling Pheu Thai, which has the ability to scavenge in regions that the ruling group has failed to exploit.

According to Mr. Olarn, Klatham has the ability to secure more than 30 tickets in upcoming elections because it has a lot of resources at its disposal and appears to have found a way to fight Bhumjaithai, as seen in the results of the most current by-election in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Constituency 8.

Klatham’s news about defectors was a move to contract for seats in the cabinet, according to Progressive Movement core member Pannika Wanich. However, she expressed doubts about whether the party can entice as many” snake MPs” to successfully appoint Anutin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai chief, to become the party’s interior minister.

She likewise harshly criticized Chon Buri MP Krit Chevathamanon of the PP for severing ties with the organization and demanded that he be fired because of a political issue. According to Ms. Pannika, the MP was chosen as a result of the party’s leadership but has since betrayed citizens.

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Senate panel demands referendum on casino bill

Anti-casino demonstrators rally at Government House on March 27. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
Anti-casino protests take place at Government House on March 27. Apichart Jinakul is the photographer.

A Senate specific commission that is reviewing the proposed casino-entertainment difficult act has called for a vote on the questionable venture, warning that it might violate the constitution if passed into law.

The commission chaired by Sen Veerapun Suvannamai held a meeting on Thursday where the main topics of discussion were going to be examining the proposed policy and reviewing the key points of the draft legislation.

The commission asked Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to give an explanation of the government’s position. She delegated the task to deputy finance secretary Julapun Amornvivat, but she was absent on an official trip to Vietnam.

Additionally, Mr. Julapun was unable to go because he was accompanying the prime minister on the trip to Vietnam. Sen Veerapun claims that the visit of Ms. Paetongtarn was therefore postponed until June 5.

Otherwise, the committee descended into discussions of the bill’s intellectual component.

Sen Chirmsak Pinthong, a council advisor, claimed the government’s draft legislation was a covert attempt to legalize large-scale games.

He criticized it for giving a scheme board chaired by the prime minister increased authority. He refers to the table as the” game case.”

There are clarity concerns raised by the document law, which dimly limits state income generated from game concessions to no more than 5 billion ringgit rather than setting a cap on the amount allowed.

He also questioned why agreements may be made without a bidding process, without a common reading or environmental impact assessment of the job.

Mr. Chirmsak cited rumors about possible casinos, including a 3,800-acre plot of land at Bangkok’s Klong Toey Port. With property values estimated to be around 1.2 million ringgit per square woo, acquiring the site may require updating the Port Act.

The buyers will have the right to access land value 100 billion ringgit if they only use 10 % of that area for a casino. However, investors would only give the state 1.1 billion baht in concessions every in exchange.

Another suggested locations include Chon Buri’s U-Tapao region and Chiang Mai’s San Kamphaeng city.

If things didn’t go according to plan, Mr. Chirmsak warned that the 30-year game agreement would be a burden on coming generations.

A council member, Kaewsan Atibhoti, said the task might be used to attract foreign investors.

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Conscript triggers inquiry with ‘forced driving’ claim

Following information that an agent from Udon Thani state forced a soldier to operate as a car driver and pocketed the majority of his wages, the House committee on national security proposes to investigate allegations of abuse within the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF ).

The panel’s chair, People’s Party ( PP ) list-MP Rangsiman Rome, claimed yesterday that the conscript at the center of the alleged exploitation was required to make 3, 000 baht a day from his taxi service.

He argued that this should not be viewed as a crime involving just one secret entity.

I believe action must be taken to stop such a practice, according to Mr. Rangsiman, “if it involves the use of energy and the promise of economic benefits.”

The situation would be different if the soldier had not been on work and had only wanted to make more money, he said.

After the conscript, who was a member of Wing 23 in Udon Thani, sought assistance from social media personality Ekkapop Luangprasert, the creator of the” Sai Mai Tong Rod” ( Survive ) Facebook page, the accusation was made public.

The soldier claimed that his officer had pressured him to carry out the work that was against his remit and meet the monetary deadline.

He officially began working before sunrise and didn’t stop until midnight to accomplish the goal.

After the RTAF intervenes and launches an inspection, Mr. Rangsiman said he would talk with party-list MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, who is the chairman of the House committee on military matters.

The soldier filed a formal problem with the RTAF yesterday, assisted by Mr. Ekkapop. He has been given permission to remain with the Security Forces Command of the RTAF until he is ready to return to his system in Udon Thani.

A fact-finding research has been ordered, according to AM Prapas Sornchaidee, the RTAF official, and the agent in question has been moved from his present position to ensure clarity in the research.

If the agent, who is said to keep the rate of squadron innovator, is found to be in the wrong, he added, administrative and judicial penalties may be brought against him.

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Premchai faces arrest over SAO tower collapse

Premchai Karnasuta, 71, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, and 16 others have been arrested by the Criminal Court following the deadly collapse of the State Audit Office ( SAO ) building in the wake of the March 28 earthquake.

The suspects are accused of skilled neglect causing death under Sections 227 and 238 of the Criminal Code.

Premchai: Warrant was issued

Premchai: Warrant was issued

The house’s style was in violation of safety regulations, with poor concrete and steel structural deficiencies in the core lift shaft, and the building’s design. 92 people were killed and nine were hurt in the collapse, which was caused by an quake, with four also missing.

The additional 16 accused include designers, supervisors, and companies from three different organizations: the development companies Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No. 1, and the design firms, which are both owned by the ITD-CREC joint venture. 10 ( Thailand ).

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