Barkar Nash – Page 971

Prayut silent on political future, calls for unity

On: May 16, 2023

Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha conjures up a smile for reporters at Government House after a meeting of his caretaker cabinet on Tuesday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remained silent about his political future in the wake of Sunday’s general election after chairing a meeting of the caretaker cabinet on Tuesday.

Reporters asked if he would quit politics or not. He smiled and said, “No comment.”

He was also tightlipped when reporters asked if he would remain in the fight and stay with the United Thai Nation Party.

He declined to comment on the possibility of former opposition party Pheu Thai joining hands with parties in his outgoing government and isolate the Move Forward Party, which won the most House seats.

Emerging after the cabinet meeting at Government House on Tuesday, Gen Prayut greeted reporters and the public and said his government remained on duty and was doing its best pending the formation of the new government.

He thanked people for their moral support for him and his government over the past years.

He thanked all voters who exercised their right at Sunday’s polls and he congratulated all political parties that received votes.

Gen Prayut said he was happy with the process of forming a new government.

“I am happy with that and would like all Thai people to cooperate and promote unity and stability in the nation, without conflict, and jointly develop the nation,” the prime minister said.

“This is for security, prosperity and sustainability. Adhere to the security of the important institutions of the nation for national development and the future of all Thais,” Gen Prayut said.

The United Thai Nation Party, which has nominated him as its prime ministerial candidate, finished fifth in Sunday’s elections with 36 House seats, compared to the Move Forward Party’s 152 and Pheu Thai’s 141, according to the latest figures.

Thirteen ministers were reported absent from Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

Politeness needed in formation of new govt, says DPM Wissanu

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 16, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha before the meeting of the caretaker cabinet at Government House on Tuesday. Asked how he was, he replied “still prime minister”. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

Polite negotiations and kindness are needed for the successful formation of the new government, not the trading of insults, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Tuesday.

He was speaking before going into the meeting of the caretaker cabinet, the first since the May 14 general election, from which 13 ministers were absent on Tuesday.

Mr Wissanu said a new coalition government could be formed, unless those involved began trading insults and were unable to reach agreement.

“The formation of the new government is now the burden of the Move Forward Party, which won the most House seats,” he said.

The 250 senators had the right to also vote for the new prime minister, Mr Wissanu said, and they had differing points of view, but this should be negotiable.

“Any wish can come true when generosity is offered in exchange,” he said.

There would be no political vacuum while the new government was being formed, because the caretaker cabinet was taking care of government business.

Mr Wissanu said the Election Commission would verify the election results in two months. Then the House would be called into session, the parliament president would be elected and would then schedule a joint sitting to vote for the new prime minister.

“If the new prime minister is elected, that will be it. If the election is not concluded wih the first vote, the process will be repeated over and over. There should not be any problems. How can there be any vacuum with the existence of the caretaker government,” Mr Wissanu said.

On Tuesday, 13 cabinet ministers took leave of absence from the weekly meeting. They included caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.

Mr Anutin is leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, which won the third most House seats at Sunday’s general election. His decision is awaited on the formation of the next government. Mr Jurin on Sunday night resigned as leader of the Democrat Party after it was trounced at the polls.

Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. When reporters asked how he was, he replied that he was the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda said he intended to leave politics. He did not know what Gen Prayut intended to do.

Cops to arrest abettors of Aem Cyanide

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Deputy chief expects warrants this week

Police take Sararat Rangsiwutaporn, who is accused of killing people with cyanide, to the Criminal Court last month. (Photo supplied)

Police will request arrest warrants from the court for associates of alleged serial killer Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn, who advised and helped her destroy evidence of her crimes, according to the deputy national police chief.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn revealed that he hoped to be able to submit the case to the attorney general later this week.

He also said that police visited Ms Sararat at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Bangkok on Monday to conduct more questioning in order to issue arrest warrants for her accomplices.

Pol Gen Surachate added that only a strong case allows the courts to issue warrants, no matter how much public demand there may be. Officers will complete the investigation into Ms Sararat’s 78 million baht’s worth of transactions by tomorrow.

Officers had also brought Ms Sararat’s brother and sister-in-law in for questioning and did not find any links that proved them complicit in the crimes.

“Ms Sararat’s case is solved because of the watertight proof we have. We will let you know if there is any update on new suspects. The timeline might be revealed on Friday,” said Pol Gen Surachate.

He added that Ms Sararat could appoint a new lawyer. However, Thannicha Aeksuwannawat, her lawyer and a long-time friend, will continue to act as her adviser.

Ms Sararat, 36, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, was arrested on April 25 at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok. She is four months pregnant. Her arrest followed a complaint filed by the mother and elder sister of Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong, 32, of Kanchanaburi.

Siriporn collapsed and died beside the Mae Klong River in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi, where she had gone with Ms Sararat to release fish for merit-making on April 14. Cyanide was found in her body. The list of her alleged victims has continued to grow.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court approved an arrest warrant for Ms Sararat for allegedly poisoning a 15th victim with cyanide in 2015.

Most victims were linked to the suspect through private saving schemes and financing of cars, Pol Gen Surachate said. “All the dead victims were found to have been with Aem before they died. All the murders were for the purpose of clearing debts,” he said.

Police to arrest abettors of Aem Cyanide

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Deputy chief expects warrants this week

Police take Sararat Rangsiwutaporn, who is accused of killing people with cyanide, to the Criminal Court in April 2023. (Photo supplied)

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn revealed that he hoped to be able to submit the case to the attorney general later this week.

He also said that police visited Ms Sararat at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Bangkok on Monday to conduct more questioning in order to issue arrest warrants for her accomplices.

Officers had also brought Ms Sararat’s brother and sister-in-law in for questioning and did not find any links that proved them complicit in the crimes.

He added that Ms Sararat could appoint a new lawyer. However, Thannicha Aeksuwannawat, her lawyer and a long-time friend, will continue to act as her adviser.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court approved an arrest warrant for Ms Sararat for allegedly poisoning a 15th victim with cyanide in 2015.

Abhisit ‘could be back’ as Dem chief

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The resignation of Jurin Laksanawisit as Democrat Party leader could see the return of former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva to lead the country’s oldest party, according to a Democrat source.

Before the election, Mr Jurin set a minimum target of capturing 25 seats but the party’s inability to hit that target on Sunday led to his decision to relinquish the party leadership.

As of 5pm on Monday, when the vote count by the Election Commission was at 99%, the Democrats had won 22 MP seats in the constituencies, but it was edging close to grabbing three more seats from the list system.

After the polls closed at 5pm on Sunday, Mr Jurin thanked voters who supported his party during the election.

He later posted on the Democrat Party’s Line group announcing his decision to step down as party leader.

“To show responsibility for the party’s election results, I hereby announce my resignation as party leader. I would like to ask you all to continue working for the party. I will stay on with the party, regardless of the position.”

Abhisit: Could make comeback

According to the party source, his likely replacement could be Mr Abhisit, who led the Democrats from March 6, 2005, to March 24, 2019.

However, if the party’s top post is not filled by Mr Abhisit, a younger politician of high calibre may be picked instead, the source said.

The source added that Mr Jurin is not expected to seek re-election as party leader.

Mr Jurin’s resignation on Sunday has caused the dissolution of the party executive board. A plenary party meeting will be called to elect a new board within 60 days, according to the party’s rules.

Sutham Rahong, the Democrat director, said the party’s new board would choose the new leader, but the timing is tied to when the EC will officially confirm Sunday’s poll results.

If the confirmation comes in the next 30 days, the party will have enough time to prepare for and convene the plenary meeting. But if the confirmation is later, the party might have no choice but to call for the meeting and go ahead with the board election, he said.

The timing is important as the party must have a clear idea of how many MPs the party will have officially as those eligible to vote for the new leader must be separated into MPs and members, he added.

The Democrat Party is also expected to have three list MPs: Mr Jurin and two other former Democrat leaders, Chuan Leekpai and Banyat Bantadtan.

After the 2019 general election, the party had 52 MPs — 33 from constituencies and 19 from the party list. It then joined the coalition government led by Palang Pracharath.

Jurin: Taking responsibility

Football tour scammers steal B30m

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

At least 30 million baht is believed to have been swindled from 10 people who booked a fake package tour to see a football match in England, according to police.

Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said several victims were in dire financial straits after taking out their life savings to pay for the tour.

Pol Gen Surachate said the tour organiser had been arrested, but it was unclear how the 30 million baht could be recouped to pay back the victims. He said similar scams involving bogus travel trips have been rampant since the reopening of borders after the pandemic.

Pallop Chuniam is among the victims who sought help from the deputy national police on Monday.

Mr Pallop told Pol Gen Surachate he and other victims had booked and paid for a package tour to attend a football match between the Liverpool and Arsenal teams. However, they discovered the trip was a hoax, and their attempt to obtain a refund was unsuccessful.

Mr Pallop said the tour was advertised on a YouTube channel with celebrities employed as presenters of the so-called “Happy Trips” to make it look reputable.

“I was cheated out of 450,000 baht. Other victims paid varying amounts for the fraudulent tour,” he said.

He identified the tour organiser as “Mr Suksan”, whom he became acquainted with through contact via the YouTube channel.

Surachate: Such fraud is rife

Mr Pallop said he was attracted to the promotional campaign offered by the channel, where he and three others could travel on the same trip for the price of three. However, they had to pay in advance in full, which he did.

He sent the money to the tour organiser in November last year, and the tour was supposed to have taken place from April 6-13.

As the date approached, he did not hear from the tour organiser. It was not until after the travel date had passed that the victims demanded a full refund. Mr Pallop said that although he could maintain communication with the tour organiser via a Line Chat app, the organiser refused to refund him.

Historic win faces hurdles

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Senators could block winner’s choice of prime minister

Members of the Move Forward Party, with leader Pita Limjaroenrat in the middle, on Monday wave from an open-top vehicle on Ratchadamnoen Avenue near Democracy Monument, where they thanked supporters after the MFP scored a resounding victory in Sunday’s election to become parliament’s largest party. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

The Move Forward Party’s (MFP) bid to form a governing coalition may not be plain sailing after a number of senators made it clear they will not support its prime ministerial candidate.

Under the constitution, the 250 senators appointed by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) are allowed to join MPs in electing a prime minister in parliament.

It will be the second and last time they will co-elect a prime minister after Sunday’s election. In the 2019 election, they joined MPs in voting for Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to become prime minister.

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat on Monday announced a plan to form a coalition government comprising five former opposition parties and one new party, with a combined 310 MPs and himself as prime minister.

Mr Pita made the announcement after the Election Commission declared the MFP as the winner of the most seats in Sunday’s general election with 152 MPs — 113 from constituencies and 39 from the party list.

He said he took the victory as a mandate from the people for his party to be the leader in forming the next government.

Mr Pita said he called Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, and congratulated her for her determination during the campaign and invited her party to join a coalition.

Ms Paetongtarn, in return, congratulated Move Forward and said the media should be informed that the two parties had talked in the interests of transparency, he added.

The three other former opposition parties he had contacted were Thai Sang Thai, Prachachart and Seri Ruam Thai. The five parties won 309 MP seats combined.

Mr Pita said he was contacting Pen Tham, or the Fair Party, which had one party-list MP, to join the coalition. He said it was a party which had worked hard for peace in the three southernmost border provinces.

The six parties would have 310 MPs in total, enough to be a majority government, he said.

“We would form the government as soon as possible so that there will not be a political and economic vacuum. Please be assured that Move Forward will be fast and meticulous,” Mr Pita said.

Asked whether Move Forward worried that senators would not vote in support of the coalition to meet the required 376 votes of endorsement for prime minister, Mr Pita said he was not concerned about it as the party has a mandate from the people.

However, Senator Jadet Insawang said that upon assuming the post of a senator, he took an oath to protect the constitutional monarchy.

“The MFP and Mr Pita once announced they would scrap Section 112 [the lese majeste law], which will affect the monarchy. This is unacceptable,” he said.

“If the MFP gathers the support of 376 MPs [more than half of the 750 members of the Lower and Upper Houses,] there is no need to seek the Senate’s support for [a prime ministerial candidate]. But if they only get 309, they’ll have to.

“For me, if Mr Pita, the MFP’s prime ministerial candidate, is nominated for a vote in parliament, he won’t get my vote,” Mr Jadet said.

Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said that the senators would look at the qualifications of any prime ministerial candidate nominated for a vote in parliament.

“One of the qualifications is that the candidate must be loyal to the country, religion and the monarchy,” he said.

He went on to say that it is premature to comment on the makeup of a coalition government.

“Senators only consider how the country will be, whether problems, conflicts or protests will follow if they vote for someone to become prime minister. We have to look at several dimensions.

“The senators will make a decision in the country’s best interests,” Mr Kittisak said.

Another senator, Chalermchai Fuengkorn, said that any party that wins the most seats must gather the support of 376 MPs so they can nominate a prime ministerial candidate and bypass the Senate.

“If they can also bring some other parties, such as Bhumjaithai, into their coalition, the Senate will be rendered meaningless,” he said. “But if they cannot gather enough support and some senators abstain from voting, their bid to form a coalition will fail.”

Laddawan Tantivitayapitak, secretary-general of the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (P-Net), called on all sides to respect the people’s mandate in the poll and for the Senate to comply with the result of a majority vote by the House of Representatives to nominate a PM candidate.

‘Long Joo’ scores 3rd win in gambling, laundering case

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Criminal Court on Monday dismissed a third gambling and money laundering charge against Somchai Jutikitdecha, also known as “Long Joo” Somchai.

The court said there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the charge against Mr Somchai, his company, and the other five defendants, which included Mr Somchai’s son as the last defendant.

Mr Somchai was arrested at his home in tambon Muang Phra in Rayong’s Muang district in February 2021 after police raided 10 locations in the eastern province to suppress an illegal gambling network.

He was also indicted for laundering an estimated 232.746 billion baht in the property market.

According to Monday’s hearing, in the court’s view, witness testimony had painted Mr Somchai as a loan shark, whereas the investigation into his financial situation had focused on income from illicit gambling.

Prosecutors also failed to present credible evidence to back up any of their allegations concerning the sources of the defendant’s wealth, so they dismissed the charges.

The prosecutors did, however, manage to specify how much money was sent to Warawut Worawutpreechawet and Napassorn Pruprong, the fifth and sixth defendants in the case, respectively, and both were charged with money laundering.

Somchai: Lack of evidence

Mr Somchai was also being prosecuted in connection with the alleged contract killing of motorcycle taxi rider Prathum Sa-adnak, 47, who was shot dead behind Muang Pattaya 8 School in Pattaya on July 28, 2020.

The Criminal Court dismissed this case on Nov 10 and Dec 22 of last year. However, those rulings are currently being appealed.

Pheu Thai accepts MFP invitation to coalition

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

No word on inclusion of Bhumjaithai Party

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, left, and Srettha Thavisin, both Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial candidates, are seen at a press conference on Monday to announce the party’s stance on forming a coalition government with the Move Forward Party. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

The Pheu Thai Party on Monday congratulated the Move Forward Party (MFP) on its election victory and accepted its proposal to form a coalition government with five other parties.

Pheu Thai key figures, led by leader Cholnan Srikaew and prime minister candidates Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, attended a press conference to announce the party’s stance after MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat proposed the six-party alliance, which would command 310 seats in the House.

At the briefing, Pheu Thai also said that it has no plans to compete with the MFP, which gained the largest number of House seats in Sunday’s polls, to form a new government.

“[Pheu Thai] accepts the fact that the MFP will lead the formation of the new government and further agrees with the invitation it has extended to parties from democratic alliances to join the new government.

“The party is of the opinion that the issues and process relating to the formation of the new government are for the MFP to decide,” according to a statement released by Pheu Thai.

When asked if the party would back Mr Pita as the prime minister, Ms Paetongtarn said Pheu Thai would accept the people’s decision.

She affirmed the party’s stance against abolishing the lese majeste law, saying it is not against discussing the law in the House.

When asked if her father, fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would return home as planned, she said there would be no changes to the plan unless announced otherwise. However, she insisted her father’s planned return to Thailand had nothing to do with the party.

Shortly before the election, Thaksin had tweeted that he wanted to return home before July 26, his 74th birthday, to care for his grandchildren. He tweeted a similar message on May 1.

Dr Cholnan said details about the government formation would be handled by the party executives and that he had no idea how long the talks would take. He declined to discuss Pheu Thai’s conditions at this stage.

He said the party was not in the position to say if the Bhumjaithai Party would be a part of the coalition.

Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, said the MFP-Pheu Thai-Bhumjaithai coalition would be the best option to defeat the 250-member Senate in the prime minister selection vote, which requires the support of at least 376 lawmakers.

Police arrest 30 in ‘Sua’ network raids

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 15, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Wasawat: Has fled overseas

Thirty people were arrested in a three-day crackdown on a criminal network allegedly linked to “Inspector Sua”, a former officer accused of involvement in a multi-billion-baht gambling network, authorities said on Monday.

Police and other law enforcement agencies raided 39 locations across the country at the weekend and detained 30 people wanted on charges of running a secret organisation, gambling operation and colluding in money laundering.

National police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas said police had made significant progress in their efforts against the network since operations against it first began in February.

A total of 57 people were arrested in four operations during this time, and assets worth more than seven billion baht were seized, including land plots covering 1,298 rai, 15 luxury cars worth 52.8 million baht and digital currencies worth 100 million baht from the network, he said.

Nineteen people who were implicated were believed to have fled overseas, he said, adding that warrants were issued for the arrests of the asset holders, who were the network’s key members.

According to the police chief, the land assets included durian orchards in Chanthaburi, a golf course in Kanchanaburi, seaside land plots in Phuket and a penthouse in Bangkok.

Pol Col Wiwat Jitsophakul, from the Crime Suppression Division, said the network linked to “Inspector Sua” was behind one of the country’s largest gambling operations. He said more than 60 firms were allegedly involved, with seven directly providing gambling services and running online gambling sites. The network’s revenue was estimated to exceed 10 billion baht last year.

“These companies report no profits but hold massive assets. This corresponds with our information the gambling proceeds are transferred through mule accounts and turned into assets,” he said.

Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, the commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said police were coordinating closely with authorities in other countries in tracking down “Inspector Sua” who had fled overseas.

“Inspector Sua”, or Pol Lt Col Wasawat Mukurasakul, was a police officer attached to the public works division under the Office of Logistics of the Royal Thai Police. His alleged involvement in the online gambling network was exposed by former massage parlour tycoon Chuvit Kamolvisit.

Barkar Nash (Page 971)