Popular ex-police chief Chakthip gunning to become Bangkok governor

25 Sept 18:22 Key points summarised by AI

Former national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda is considering a run for Bangkok governor, a move poised to challenge seasoned politicians despite his lack of prior political experience.
He garnered widespread public admiration for his hands-on bravery and direct involvement in critical law enforcement missions, such as the Korat mall shooting rescue and the Wild Boar cave search.
Chakthip's reputation for solving high-profile cases and cultivating strong ties with influential political figures makes him a highly sought-after candidate by major parties like Democrat, Bhumjaithai, and Palang Pracharath.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Yesterday 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.