Criminal Court judge to be quizzed over over letting grey senator off the hook

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

MOVE FORWARD MP Rangsiman Rome today (Mar.8) petitioned the judicial branch to interrogate a judge of the Criminal Court who had revoked an arrest warrant for a senator suspected by police as a drug dealer-cum-money launderer.

Rangsiman filed the petition with the Office of the Judiciary Committee based in the premises of the Criminal Court calling for investigation into last October’s event in which the unidentified judge had questionably revoked the arrest warrant for Senator Upakit Pajareeyangkun who had been allegedly involved in a drug-dealing and money-laundering racket in northern border area.

The police investigating the case had obtained the arrest warrant from the judge in question in the morning and then it was revoked by the same judge in the afternoon.

Rangsiman said the judicial branch was primarily supposed to maintain justice to all parties and thus was bound to look into the doubtful decision of that particular judge of the Criminal Court.

According to the Move Forward MP, no subpoena has been issued for Upakit since last October whilst the senator is no longer immune to  judicial procedures for the time being.

During last month’s censure debate, Rangsiman said Upakit had been suspected of laundering some ill-gained money by procuring a pricey real estate in Soi Ari Phaholyothin area including a newly-constructed building which he had claimed to rent to the Ruam Thai Sang Chart for use as the party’s headquarters.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha whom the ultra-conservative Ruam Thai Sang Chart is pitting as partisan contender for head of a post-election government declined to respond to the allegations involving his party, however.

Upakit has categorically dismissed all allegations launched by the opposition MP and filed a 100-million-baht libel lawsuit against him.

The senator who currently remains at large has been accused of involvement in the drug-dealing and money-laundering scam in connivance with Myanmar’s arms dealer, namely Tun Min Latt, who had been arrested by the police last year.

The senator had earlier reportedly owned a casino and hotel under the name of Allure Group in Myanmar’s Tachileik township across the border from Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.

CAPTIONS:

Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome outside the Criminal Court today, Mar. 8, 2023, above, and addressing the House of Representatives, Front Page. Both photos: Matichon

Insert: Senator Upakit Pajareeyangkun. Photo: Naewna

Also read: Ruam Thai Sang Chart leader challenged to show evidence on renting grey senator’s property

Police urged to confiscate Ruam Thai Sang Chart HQ building over money-laundering scam

Grey senator ‘turned posh Bangkok spot into Ruam Thai Sang Chart HQ’

Questioning of Prayut’s nephew urged over Chinese grey business links

Pheu Thai dissolution sought for using politically banned Nattawut