Minister Varawut denies knowing escaped convict being hunted in the South

30 Sept 09:11 Key points summarised by AI

Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa denies any personal knowledge of escaped convict Chaovalit Thongduang, despite a group photo showing them together.
Varawut stated the photo likely originated from his campaign trail in Nakhon Si Thammarat in late 2018 or early 2019, where group photos with the public are a common occurrence for politicians.
Police continue an extensive manhunt for Chaovalit, who escaped from a hospital on October 26th and is believed to be hiding in the Banthad mountain range with armed associates.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.