Thai senator faces indictment on money laundering, criminal organisation charges

[webfact]

Senator Upakit Pachirirangkun, photo by Nation Thailand

 

by Mitch Connor

 

A Thai Senator Upakit Pachirirangkun faces indictment on charges of money laundering and involvement in a transnational criminal organisation, according to Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, the spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General.

 

The decision follows a police investigation into the senator’s alleged connections with illicit activities, Bangkok Post reported this morning.

 

However, 61 year old Upakit has denied the charges. In a press conference on March 17, the senator countered allegations made by Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome, who accused him of having ties with Myanmar national Tun Min Latt, arrested for drug trafficking last year. Pachirirangkun claimed that Rangsiman and some media outlets had made unsupported conclusions and denied allegations of laundering drug money through an electricity supply business on the Thai-Myanmar border.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/politics/thai-senator-upakit-pachirirangkun-faces-money-laundering-criminal-organisation-charges

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-20

 

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[JoePai]

Looks the type...

[anchadian]

Possibly 1 unelected senator down and 249 remaining.

[worgeordie]

I hope he is one of the military connected senators .....

 

regards worgeordie

[Neeranam]

33 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Looks the type...

I was thinking the opposite

[Neeranam]

1 minute ago, worgeordie said:

I hope he is one of the military connected senators .....

 

regards worgeordie

Why?

[MrMojoRisin]

One cannot begin to imagine what is going to be uncovered in the coming months as PM Pita and his colleagues take the reins of power. 

[MrMojoRisin]

2 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I hope he is one of the military connected senators .....

 

regards worgeordie

Even the non military Senators are military Senators

[worgeordie]

Just now, Neeranam said:

Why?

So hopefully they can get rid of him ....one less.

 

regards Worgeordie

[worgeordie]

2 minutes ago, MrMojoRisin said:

Even the non military Senators are military Senators

But some were not actually in the military.

 

regards worgeordie

[MrMojoRisin]

6 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

But some were not actually in the military.

 

regards worgeordie

Even the non military Senators are military Senators

[Will B Good]

Cannot not say this was all carried out Myanmar......then he'd be in the clear?

[anchadian]

Upakit Pachariyangkun (Thai: อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร; also spelt Uppakit Pachareeyangkun; born 28 October 1961) is a Thai businessman and senator, known for serving as chairman of United Power of Asia and Allure Group.[1] He was appointed by Thailand's military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order, as a Senator of Thailand on May 24, 2019.[2][3] In 2019, Upakit declared assets worth US$52 million, making him Thailand's wealthiest senator.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upakit_Pachariyangkun
 

[spidermike007]

They fail to mention if he is one of the crooked, army selected senators. Well, of course he is. This is the way the army rolls here.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, anchadian said:

Possibly 1 unelected senator down and 249 remaining.

Time to investigate all the senators, they must have skeletons they wish to hide.. rock the boat and push the sh*t back up-hill.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

So hopefully they can get rid of him ....one less.

 

regards Worgeordie

Not sure who this guy is. Is he one of the planted military, elite or is he not one of the gang of 250 who is going to vote for Pita for PM? If so your comment is saying get rid of the senators who will vote with the magority coalition. More detail is needed before such comments. Please make your comment clearer.  

[koolkarl]

Is there an honest politician anywhere?  If there is, I will eat my shoes.

[candide]

This is not a good sign. When the judiciary gets interested in a member of the establishment, it is often a way to pretend it is unbiased before incriminating an anti-establishment person.

[RichardColeman]

6 hours ago, MrMojoRisin said:

One cannot begin to imagine what is going to be uncovered in the coming months as PM Pita and his colleagues take the reins of power. 

I'd make an investigation into the covid money a priority !

[ukrules]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

They fail to mention if he is one of the crooked, army selected senators.

Aren't they all, as in every single one of them?

[Denim]

6 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Cannot not say this was all carried out Myanmar......then he'd be in the clear?

No need. It's all a misunderstanding ????

[Srikcir]

There is another issue regarding replacement of Senators - at least to me.

The current Senate is 100% selected. The junta eliminated the prior Senate that required 50% be elected. Obvious inappropriate to Thai-styled democracy.

So who would now select any retired (current term was five years - seems overlooked or reinstated by the junta?) or discharged Senators?

Analysis appreciated.

I'm thinking the PM and Cabinet but until a new PM and Cabinet is installed as our Royal endorsement,  any caretaker government cannot. So it's possible the Senate temporarily loses a Senatorial seat?

 

[Burma Bill]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

allegations of laundering drug money through an electricity supply business on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Selling electricity to the Burmese Junta with payments from Burma using "dirty" money??

[peter zwart]

For sure.......Not quilty

[sammieuk1]

Chuwit will have his cum face on again ???? 

[stoner]

34 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Selling electricity to the Burmese Junta with payments from Burma using "dirty" money??

is there anything you would like to say bill before things get out of hand :)

[sherwood]

10 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Why?

Because none of these Senators has a right to be in the position in the first place.

[phetphet]

With the defamation laws being what they are here, RR better have some strong evidence. Or do MP's have immunity for making such statements?

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, stoner said:

is there anything you would like to say bill before things get out of hand ????

Yes, I'm glad I left Thailand to continue retirement in Siem Reap.