Disgraced Thai MP refutes illegal activities with Chinese

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) stumbled upon a former disgraced politician as the department’s crackdown on Chinese gangsters operating in the kingdom continues.

Thai media made known yesterday that the RTP is investigating the former secretary-general of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), Thamanat Prompow, and his alleged links to Chinese triads.

The 58 year old denies the allegations.

“I have visited many countries. I have friends of many nationalities including Westerners, Chinese, Thai, and Indian people, but I don’t have any business that involves any ‘grey’ Chinese people, as accused.”

Thamanat then rounded on Thai media saying they should publish news that is beneficial to the public rather than damaging the reputation of individuals.

It is fair to say that Thamanat has had many shady “grey” areas in the past. He was convicted of conspiring to import heroin to Australia in 1994 before his political career kicked off. He was sentenced to six years in prison and served four. He continues to deny his guilt.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon asked the Thai people to leave the past in the past when he joined the PPRP.

Thamanat joined the PPRP as its chief strategist and became the Phayao MP. The following year and he was elected as PPRP secretary-general but he was eventually sacked from the Cabinet on September 21 last year after the Royal Gazette published a royal command that he should be removed after he was accused of being behind a move to oust Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during a censure debate in Parliament.

PM Prayut also sacked Thamanat from his position of deputy agriculture minister in September last year.

On Wednesday, Thailand’s authorities captured two heads of Chinese mafia gangs in the kingdom as part of PM Prayut’s crackdown.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate ‘Big Joke’ Hakparn announced a covert undercover operation managed to successfully arrest two mafia chiefs, although three other heads of illegal activities managed to escape their clutches.

National police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas told Thai media the gangsters are not welcome in Thailand anymore and steps will be taken to prevent a return to their illegal activities.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered a clampdown on illegal establishments, gangsters and prohibited firearms, regardless of the suspects’ nationality.