Senator indicted for drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational crime

13 Sept 09:47 Key points summarised by AI

Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun was formally indicted on narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organization charges.
The senator denied all accusations and applied for bail, offering a five million baht cash surety, awaiting the court's decision.
His case will be tried separately from his Burmese business associate, Tun Min Latt, who is currently on trial for similar offenses.
Authorities previously froze 400-million baht in assets belonging to Upakit, suspecting they were ill-gotten gains from illegal activities.
Upakit co-founded an illegal casino group with Tun Min Latt, later resigning and selling his stake before joining the Senate.

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.