People’s Party drops election candidate named in arrest warrant

Boonyarit Raorungrot accused of involvement in money laundering

The People’s Party announced on Monday morning it had dropped and will replace its candidate for Bangkok’s constituency 33, Boonyarit Raorungrot, after learning he is the subject of a court arrest warrant on a charge of money laundering.

Police said later that Mr Boonyarit was taken into custody on Monday, along with three other suspects in the case, including a Thai-Lao couple. Investigators had seized assets worth over 200 million baht, including guns, from the couple’s house in Bangkok.

Mr Boonyarit, aged 47, was the party’s nominated candidate in constituency 33, Bang Phlat-Bangkok Noi (excluding Siriraj), on Dec 27, when the registration process kicked off nationwide.

Executive committee member Phicharn Chaowapatanawong, who oversees the party’s  election campaign, apologised to supporters at a media briefing at the party’s office in Bangkok on Monday morning.

“We most sincerely apologise to the people, especially those in Bang Phlat and Bangkok Noi districts. The party thoroughly checked the criminal records of all candidates,” Mr Phicharn said. “There were no summonses issued in the case involving Mr Boonyarit, but an arrest warrant came out on Dec 17, after the party had completed its background checks.” (continues below)

Phicharn Chaowapatanawong, executive committee member of the People’s Party overseeing the  election campaign, speaks at a press conference at the party head office in Bangkok on Monday morning. (screenshot)

Mr Boonyarit had since told them he served as a director and a shareholder in a friend’s oil export business which might be linked to money laundering allegations, leading to the arrest warrant, Mr Picharn said.

The party learned of the warrant only on Monday morning, when police searched the candidate’s residence. The party would not interfere in the judicial process, he said.

The party informed Mr Boonyarit immediately that he was being replaced and issued a  public announcement, affirming there had been no protection or concealment provided for anyone.

“This proves that our party stands by the principle, ‘There’s orange, there’s no grey’. It is not just a campaign slogan, we have proven it by our actions.” Mr Picharn said. Once the party is given the opportunity to govern the country, people could be confident it would not protect any illegal networks, he said.

The People’s Party has until registration ends on Wednesday to nominate a new candidate-MP for Bangkok constituency 33. 

– Police details –

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma said later that police armed with seven arrest warrants, including one for the candidate, searched 22 target locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Lop Buri and Trang following the arrest of members of a drug smuggling network on Nov 11.

Police learned the network had registered a business under the name ‘TKP’ with four export arms that were found to have not done any business as registered, he said.

Money circulated through the companies exceeded 20 billion baht, involving 50 bank accounts police investigators found were linked to the drug network.

Financial evidence revealed that money from the business had been paid to the candidate on a monthly basis. Mr Booyarit admitted to being a director of one of the companies but denied receiving a salary or having any connection to the drug network.

Three other suspects, including the Thai-Lao couple, were also taken in custody on Monday, Pol Gen Samran said. Police seized assets, including firearms, worth over 200 million baht from the coupe’s house, he said.

Police arrest Boonyarit Raorungrot at his residence on Monday. (Photo: supplied/ Wassayos Ngamkham)