Thai MP Faces Arrest Request for Rape Allegation

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

The House of Representatives has received a formal arrest request concerning Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit, a member of the Thai Progressive Party. He is under accusation for allegedly raping a Taiwanese woman in Chiang Mai last month.

 

The request follows an arrest warrant issued by a Chiang Mai court, and it highlights the complex intersection of political position and legal proceedings in Thailand.

 

Notably, due to Mr Chaiyamparwaan's status as a Member of Parliament (MP), the legal process requires a formal request to be submitted to parliament before any potential legal actions, such as an arrest, can be facilitated. The objective is to allow the House to deliberate and permit his prosecution without infringing upon parliamentary privilege.

 

The letter, delivered by the national police chief, is set to be reviewed by parliament next Thursday, with Pol Sub Lt Arpath Sukhanunth, secretary-general of the House of Representatives, confirming the development. However, whether the matter will indeed make it onto the parliamentary agenda depends on the specifics of Thursday’s meeting.

 

An interesting twist could be in play if Mr Chaiyamparwaan opts to turn himself in before the scheduled discussion. In such a scenario, the parliament may remove the issue from their agenda, as elaborated by Pol Sub Lt Arpath.

Mr Chaiyamparwaan's team has already intimated that he will not attend next Monday's meeting because of prior commitments, with promises of a public statement to address the issue when he is prepared.

 

Meanwhile, he is believed to be currently in Bangkok, with indications that he plans to surrender to authorities before the parliamentary meeting. His legal representatives remain steadfast in denying the allegations, stating that the sexual encounter was consensual.

 

This isn't the first time Mr Chaiyamparwaan has faced allegations of misconduct. In 2023, he was expelled from the Move Forward Party after an internal investigation linked him to sexual harassment claims involving three assistants.

 

It remains to be seen whether parliament will conduct an ethical investigation into Mr Chaiyamparwaan’s alleged actions. Pol Sub Lt Arpath mentioned the recent formation of an ethics committee, leaving open the question of whether this body might take up the case or await a formal complaint. The unfolding events will test the balance of legal process and parliamentary protocol as they pertain to serious criminal allegations against sitting MPs in Thailand, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-14

 

 

[JoePai]

Silly boy has not learnt yet how to keep his pecker zipped up 

[phetphet]

He won't be attending next Monday's meeting due to prior commitments? I would have thought clearing his name would be more important.

 

Public statement to address the issue when he is prepared? Hmmm. 

 

[nakhonandy]

Given he has some previous in the sexual harassment area, you'd have thought he'd be more than ready to defend this and protect his name, assuming he's innocent of course. 

[SOTIRIOS]

...'Anyone'...(Hint-Hint)...Going To Stand Up For Women...(?)

 

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The unfolding events will test the balance of legal process and parliamentary protocol as they pertain to serious criminal allegations against sitting MPs in Thailand

On balance, those type of MPs flee to a neighboring country to await the expiry of the statute of limitations for their cases, usually enabled by their families' fortunes. Then they return, have their records cleaned through their contacts and resume their lives...

[Purdey]

Using perceived power to break the law is not uncommon, as is the phrase, "Do you know who I am?"

[MikeandDow]

Another Thai trying to evade his responsibilities