Bangkok: The People's Party (PCP) issued an urgent apology to the public on December 29th for changing its Bangkok constituency candidate after the candidate was issued an arrest warrant in connection with a money laundering case.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phicharn Chaowapatanawong, a member of the People's Party's executive committee and the person in charge of the Bangkok election campaign, held an urgent press conference. He stated that at around 7:00 AM that morning, he called to inquire about the New Year campaign schedule of Mr. Boonrit Raorungroj, the candidate for Member of Parliament in the Bang Phlat-Bangkok Noi district. It was then he learned that Boonrit had been issued an arrest warrant because his name is associated with a company linked to money laundering.
Mr. Phicharn expressed sincere apologies to the public, especially the residents of Bang Phlat and Bangkok Noi. He emphasized that the party had thoroughly checked the criminal records of all candidates. In Mr. Boonrit's case, no summons was issued; instead, an arrest warrant was issued on December 17th, after the party had already completed its background checks on all candidates. The party was unaware of the situation until the morning when the police searched Boonrit's residence. Immediately upon learning this, the party consulted with the executive committee and informed the candidate that a replacement would be chosen to allow him to proceed through the legal process. The party affirmed that it is not concealing or protecting anyone, and Boonrit himself accepts the party's decision.
Mr. Phicharn confirmed that the party will have to replace its candidate, a process that can be completed before the registration deadline on December 31st. Regarding Boonrit's case, inquiries with the candidate revealed that he did not request any assistance from the party. He only explained that, prior to this, he had served as a director and held shares in an oil export business, which led to the money laundering allegations. The candidate must now proceed through the legal process to prove his innocence, and the party will not interfere. The People's Party affirms its commitment to fairness, denying any favoritism or protection of its own candidates. Mr. Phicharn confirmed that the issuance of an arrest warrant indicates sufficient evidence, and the justice system must be allowed to function normally.
He reiterated assurances to all citizens that the People's Party strives to design a more rigorous candidate selection process for each election, in order to obtain the best possible candidates. Despite these efforts, mistakes still occur, and he apologized again to the public for any disappointment. He emphasized that "Orange, No Gray" is not just a campaign slogan; they prove through their actions that they will not compromise with any form of corruption or dishonesty. The party will handle such matters transparently and swiftly so that when given the opportunity to govern the country, the public can be confident that the party will not abuse its power or protect its cronies who break the law.