People’s Party MP candidate arrested over alleged online gambling links
Police have arrested a People’s Party Member of Parliament (MP) candidate in Bangkok over alleged involvement in an online gambling network and money laundering activities.
Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) raided the home of 32-year-old Ratchapong “Pond” Soisuwan at around 5.30pm on January 14. The residence is located in Nuan Chan Village, Nawamin sub-district, Bueng Kum district.
Ratchapong is an MP candidate for Tak province in northern Thailand. He previously served as an MP for Constituency 2 in Tak under the former Move Forward Party and was recently nominated to contest the upcoming general election scheduled for February.
Cyber police allege that Ratchapong is linked to an online gambling operation and money laundering activities connected to the website nakarin789.com. According to MGR Online, investigators infiltrated the platform by posing as gamblers and placing bets to trace financial transactions.
Police said funds deposited on the gambling website were first transferred to a bank account belonging to a Thai man, Somphot Kaewprasit, before being forwarded to another account held by a Thai woman, Kanchana Namhong. Both individuals were arrested as part of the same investigation.
Further financial analysis reportedly revealed that money from the gambling network was later transferred into Ratchapong’s bank account, prompting authorities to gather evidence and proceed with his arrest.
CCIB officers said the investigation is ongoing, with at least two additional suspects believed to be holding bank accounts used in the gambling network.
Following the arrest, People’s Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut held a press conference on January 15. He said the party learned of Ratchapong’s arrest late on Tuesday night through the suspect’s lawyer.
Natthaphong reiterated the party’s firm stance against corruption, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal financial activities, scams and online gambling. He stressed that the party would not protect any member accused of wrongdoing and that all cases must be handled through the judicial process.
He added that all candidates undergo internal screening before nomination, but acknowledged that the party does not have the investigative powers of law enforcement agencies to uncover concealed criminal activity without solid evidence.
Natthaphong also confirmed that the party had previously received complaints concerning Ratchapong, but said no substantiated evidence was found at the time to justify disciplinary action.
As of now, Ratchapong remains under police interrogation and has not issued any public statement regarding the allegations.
The case follows a similar incident last month involving another People’s Party member, Boonrit Raorungroj, who was arrested during a crackdown on drug trafficking and money laundering. Boonrit denied the charges, claiming he was listed only as a company director and was unaware of any illegal activity. Police reportedly denied bail and remanded him and three other suspects in custody at the Criminal Court.
