Bangkok: Two Songkhla MPs disappeared and failed to appear before the House Security Committee. Atchariya and Big Joke brought key witnesses who admitted to transferring gambling website money into police accounts. Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) confirmed that Chanonpat was the owner of the website and explained that they had seized only 36 million baht in assets, with the remainder belonging to associates. A total of 69 items were seized, revealing that the money was linked to more than one case involving Somyot, which is currently under investigation. The Revenue Department responded by requesting to submit evidence later, citing personal information. Meanwhile, Big Jong angrily complained that Rome allowed the media to broadcast live, damaging the reputation of the police even though the case was not yet finalized. He declined to accept the bribes but refused to deny whether the police had accepted bribes.
According to Thai News Agency, reporters stated that at the House of Representatives Committee on State Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy, and Reform, chaired by Rangsiman Rome, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the Prachachon Party, the agenda item was to consider scammers, continuing from last week's case, as well as online gambling websites. Mr. Chanonpat Naksua, a Songkhla MP from the Klatham Party, and Mr. Somyot Plaiduang, also known as Kothuk, were invited to attend, but neither appeared. Mr. Rangsiman informed the meeting that Mr. Chanonpat initially stated he would come to clarify matters, but ultimately stated he was on local business but did not submit a letter. Mr. Somyot submitted a letter stating he was on overseas business. Therefore, today's consideration will focus on police operations following the dismissal of Police General Torsak Sukwimol, former national police chief, and over 200 other officers for accepting bribes from online gambling networks. Relevant agencies, incl uding Police General Surachet Hakpal, former deputy national police chief, and Mr. Atchariya, were invited. Rueangrattanapong and Ms. Pimwilai Plong-on, the account owners who transferred money to the police, provided information, spending a total of five hours in a meeting.
Pol. Gen. Surachet questioned Ms. Pimwilai about why she had transferred so many funds to police officers in Songkhla Province, what the funds were for, and how they were transferred. Ms. Pimwilai stated that after her arrest, she asked the person who hired her to transfer the funds why she had been arrested. The person who hired her to transfer the funds explained that the funds transferred to the police or elsewhere were illegal or gambling funds, and that all the money was bribes sent to the police. She said she knew about some of the bribes, but she didn't know what the bribes were for. She only knew that they were bribes to online gambling websites.
Pol. Gen. Surachet then asked whether the PCT4 unit, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwpaen, Deputy Inspector-General of the Royal Thai Police, had discovered the transfer. He wanted to know whether Ms. Pimwilai had actually transferred the money from the gambling website, who transferred it, and what the officer's name was. Ms. Pimwilai admitted to the transfer, saying that the person who hired her to transfer the money contacted a person who would collect the money from her on the 5th and 10th of every month. He informed her that this unit was PCT 4 and would transfer the money to Lieutenant Kamo, an officer in PCT 4. A report was filed at Hat Yai Police Station. After her arrest, she felt she had been treated unfairly, as she was merely the person who made the transfer and kept the accounts. However, she found out later, leading her to file a complaint, asking why she had been arrested after transferring money to the police. She felt she had been treated unfairly.
Pol. Gen. Surachet then questioned local politicians, specifically Wichai Chukamnerd, a member of the Hat Yai City Council. He found one transfer of 100,000 baht to Mr. Khachachan, the mule account of Sergeant Major Yao, and other mule accounts belonging to Sergeant Major Yao. The money trail also ran 38 times, totaling 3 million baht, to Ms. Nipaphan Sukwimol, the wife of Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukwimol, the former national police chief, as well as Pol. Gen. Torsak's brother and sister. This trail also ran to Pol. Lt. Col. Weerawat Charoensin, Pol. Gen. Torsak's aide. All the transfers were outgoing, but why was Mr. Chanonpat's money trail transferred back to Ms. Pimwilai? Ms. Pimwilai stated that she did not know why.
Pol. Gen. Surachet Loei said he wants the committee to inform the Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and forward the findings to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for inclusion in the investigation. He also wants the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to seize the assets of all police officers who received money from online gambling websites. He also wants the matter to be forwarded to the Revenue Department to investigate all back taxes paid by police officers who received money from online gambling websites.
Later, Mr. Atchariya clarified that he had been following the Chaba case, which involved drug-related mule accounts and online gambling websites in the South and North since 2020. The Chaba account had a turnover of over 1 million baht, and it was found to be linked to Mr. Chanonpat. However, no charges have been filed due to inconsistent testimony from witnesses, a sly assertion. Mr. Chanonpat currently owns 12 gambling websites, with a turnover of 5 billion baht. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is responsible for shutting these websites down, as funds are still flowing in. During the time of Mr. Prasert Chantarawongthong's tenure as Minister, a gambling website related to the Nan lottery case was seized, with assets worth 500 million baht seized. He urged the head of online crime to follow this case, as the outcome will be clear. Mr. Prasert previously denied having sent police to collect the money, but issued a document naming Pol. Lt. Col. Phubet Ketkaew and Pol. Sgt. Chawalit. Pol. Lt. Col. P hubet forged the document, sent a message to the bank, and instructed the bank to send it to those whose accounts were frozen. He demanded a 50% extortion fee for releasing the frozen accounts. Police Sergeant Major Chawalit was considered the most wicked, collecting a fee of 100,000 baht per account for releasing the frozen accounts, for more than 500 accounts, by sending it to the bank. This matter was highly controversial, as to why the account freezing required payment.
Mr. Atchariya stated that there is a financial trail showing that Mr. Chanonpat received 2 million baht from Boss Tal, a suspect in the online gambling case. He questioned the purpose of the money. He wanted everyone to understand that he was doing his job and that he had worked with Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruttapol Naowarat, Minister of Justice, on the crackdown on scammers and online gambling websites. He stated that his proposals did not defame anyone. He did not accuse Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong, and he did not believe the claim that during Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong's era, every case was acquitted. He urged them to monitor and investigate.
Pol. Gen. Kornchai Klaiklueng, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, acting as representative of the Prime Minister and the Commissioner-General, stated that the Royal Thai Police (RTP) has taken serious action against those accused of serious ethical violations to maintain ethical standards within the police organization and build public confidence under the Police Act.
Then, Pol. Col. Sutheeiam Charoenying, Deputy Commander of the Police Records Investigation Division, clarified the disciplinary proceedings and criminal charges against Pol. Gen. Torsak and his associates, totaling 33 officers. The criminal proceedings have been forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) by Pol. Gen. Surachet. Regarding the disciplinary proceedings against the former National Police Chief, the Prime Minister's authority to handle the matter rests with him. This case requires a two-part process. In the case of Pol. Gen. Torsak, the Prime Minister issued an order on March 6, 2025, ordering the National Police Chief to proceed in accordance with Section 117 of the National Police Act of 2022. A nine-member fact-finding committee has been established, and this process is currently underway. Regarding the other 24 officers, the National Police Chief ordered the formation of another seven-member committee on June 6, 2025, which is currently ongoing and has not yet been finalized, as key witnesses have never testified.
Mr. Chutiphong Phiphobphinyo, Rayong MP for the Prachachon Party, asked whether the other 24 police officers had a mechanism to remove them from the process first.