Category: The Bangkok Post

Police are preparing to summon People’s Party list-MP Rukchanok Srinork and the operator of the Godd Dam Facebook page to acknowledge defamation charges over an allegedly forged bank transfer slip purporting to show a 7-million-baht “tea money” payment to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

The complaint was filed by Mr Anutin, who is also interior minister, after the Godd Dam page published the slip, which portrayed him as the recipient of the payment. Ms Rukchanok later shared the post.

Pol Col Rattathon Ekthitikulpat, superintendent of Thong Lor police, said on Saturday investigators were waiting for testimony from one more witness for the complainant before issuing summonses.

The witness is expected to be questioned next week, after which investigators should have sufficient evidence to proceed, he said.

Ms Rukchanok and the page operator, identified as Chairat Rekhawatthana, 26, face preliminary charges of defamation by publication. Mr Chairat, who is being detained in connection with an earlier case, is expected to be formally notified of the charge in prison.

Pol Col Rattathon said there was no need for further coordination with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau at this stage, given the evidence already gathered.

Separately, Kasikornbank has filed a police complaint over the alleged forgery of a transfer slip bearing its name and The Wisdom logo.

According to a police report disclosed on Saturday, the bank filed the complaint at Bang Sue police station on Oct 26 after its Customer Complaint Centre examined the document.

The slip purported to show a transfer of 7 million baht on Oct 31, 2023, at 3.03pm. The bank said verification confirmed the slip had not been generated through its system. It denied any involvement and warned the fabricated document could mislead the public, damage its reputation and potentially facilitate fraud.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed accusations that his government is avoiding a no-confidence debate, insisting he is ready to face parliament in December and the coalition remains stable.

Speaking on the programme Talk with Anutin’s Cabinet on Saturday, Mr Anutin said he had instructed all cabinet ministers not to travel during the proposed debate week so they would be available to answer questions in parliament.

However, when the government and opposition failed to agree on the schedule, the administration was accused of running away from parliament. “We never ran away,” he said.

The debate has been set for Dec 7-11, with the vote on the final day, following disagreement over whether the session should have been held last week.

Mr Anutin, who is on an official visit to Bhutan from Friday until Sunday at the invitation of Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, defended his overseas trips as necessary missions involving meetings with foreign leaders and investors.

Direct engagement by the prime minister carried more weight than delegating such meetings, he said, adding the government had to balance parliamentary politics with national interests, including investment, exports and international confidence.

“Whether people like the government or not, the country must come first. Politics is not even my second priority. It comes much further down the list,” he said.

Asked whether the opposition might target ministers from certain coalition parties to undermine government relations, Mr Anutin said it was free to choose its targets. He insisted the coalition was stable and said grilling him alone would effectively cover the accountability of the entire cabinet.

House Speaker Sophon Zarum on Saturday rejected claims the debate had been delayed by up to 60 days after the motion was submitted, saying the facts did not support them.

Mr Sophon said the government had been ready from the outset for four days of debate and one day of voting, and had been prepared to proceed as early as Oct 27-29.

However, he said the opposition told negotiators it was not ready and requested a postponement until November or December within the current parliamentary session.

Influencer Boonyanuch Saengsri has urged police to investigate current and former board members of the Good Deeds Foundation over allegations of donation misuse involving its suspended chairwoman, Panadda “Bum” Wongphudee.

Boonyanuch, owner of the “Oilsri and Phong Phueak” Facebook page, on Saturday filed “additional testimony and evidence” with investigators at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).

She earlier filed a complaint alleging possible public fraud, violations of the Computer Crime Act and money laundering linked to the foundation’s donations.

Denying any personal conflict with Ms Panadda or publicity-seeking motives, she insisted she had acted in good faith. She questioned the foundation’s transparency, particularly the use of personal bank accounts to receive donations.

Investigators from the CIB’s Crime Suppression Division are currently examining the financial transactions.

Boonyanuch called for all current and former board members to be questioned, saying resignations do not absolve them of responsibility for alleged wrongdoing during their tenure.

She also urged police to examine Ms Panadda’s bank accounts, including one reportedly frozen, after successfully making test transfers to “all listed donation accounts”.

The complaint follows allegations that donations collected during last year’s southern floods may have been diverted towards the construction of a villa in Phuket.

Boonyanuch’s legal team also raised concerns about transfers allegedly made without proper board approval.

The foundation has since temporarily suspended Ms Panadda from her duties as chair and halted donations while continuing its charitable activities.

Police are hunting two gunmen suspected of killing a school director in Mae Fa Luang district on Friday.

The victim, identified as Sirasit (surname withheld), was shot with a 9mm handgun at a school in Moo 27 village of Mae Salong Nai subdistrict. He was pronounced dead at Mae Fa Luang Hospital.

A construction foreman at the school said two men were seen loitering near the premises about 10am, roughly an hour before the shooting.

The men remained there for 20-30 minutes, but workers paid little attention because they assumed the pair were looking for construction work.

Around 11am, workers heard two gunshots in quick succession and rushed towards the school’s meeting room, where they found Sirasit lying in a pool of blood outside.

The witness said the suspects, whose faces were concealed by hats, fled through the rear of the school.

A yellow-and-blue taxi was seen near the front gate shortly before the shooting, with a man standing nearby and talking on his mobile phone.

Police and forensic officers inspected the scene and collected evidence. Investigators have yet to establish a motive.

Residents said Sirasit had served about 20 years in prison for a drug offence before his release in 2019. He subsequently became the school’s director.

Some speculated the killing might be linked to a personal dispute.

Thailand and Bhutan have signed three cooperation agreements covering healthcare, agricultural finance and clean energy as the countries seek to deepen economic ties, expand investment opportunities and promote sustainable development.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also interior minister, witnessed the signing and exchange of the agreements in Thimphu on Saturday during his official visit to the Himalayan kingdom.

Government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises said the agreements aim to boost the exchange of knowledge and technology, improve medical services, expand access to finance for farmers and small businesses, and support renewable energy development.

The first memorandum of understanding (MoU), between the Thai and Bhutanese public health ministries, covers universal healthcare, disease prevention and control, medical personnel development and medical research.

It also promotes cooperation in digital healthcare, telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as arrangements for Bhutanese patients to receive treatment at Thai public hospitals.

The second agreement is a renewed MoU between the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) and Bhutan Development Bank Ltd (BDBL) covering financial cooperation.

Areas of collaboration include green loans for sustainable agriculture, credit risk assessment, cross-border money transfers and trade in agricultural products and community-based goods. The aim is to improve access to finance for farmers and small enterprises in both countries.

The third document, a record of discussions on clean energy cooperation involving Thailand’s Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), Bhutan’s Finance Ministry and Norion Renewable Energy Ltd, provides for technical assistance to review feasibility studies and detailed designs for a proposed 100-megawatt solar-agriculture project in Tareythang, Bhutan.

Mr Ekkapob said the agreements were testament to Thailand’s commitment to translating its longstanding relationship with Bhutan into practical benefits for people in both countries.

The signing followed talks between Mr Anutin and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in Thimphu on Oct 30, during which the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, healthcare, education and clean energy.

Both sides welcomed progress on a Thailand-Bhutan free trade agreement (FTA), which they hope will take effect on Jan 1, 2027. The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade and investment.

Thailand will not reopen its border checkpoints with Cambodia until its key concerns are addressed, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

Speaking on the programme Talk with PM Anutin on Saturday, Mr Anutin said there was no timeline for reopening the border and no indication that bilateral relations would return to their previous level soon. He cited unresolved land and maritime boundary issues, transnational scam operations and the safety of Thai citizens.

The border had been closed for some time and the government must prioritise Thailand’s interests, he said.

Key considerations included tackling illegal imports, addressing concerns over agricultural trade, combating cross-border criminal networks and ensuring national security.

Mr Anutin said the government would not allow political considerations to outweigh the country’s interests.

Economic indicators had improved since the closure and public sentiment remained supportive of the measure.

While dialogue with Cambodia remained possible, several steps had to be completed before relations could be restored to their previous level.

Thailand is seeking to strengthen its energy security by diversifying energy sources, expanding renewable energy development and promoting public-private cooperation, amid concerns over its dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and exposure to global supply disruptions.

The approach aims to balance reliable and affordable energy supplies with the country’s climate commitments, including its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Darika Sarunyagate, an adviser to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, outlined the challenges during an exclusive interview at Singapore International Energy Week with the Bangkok Post on Oct 27.

Ms Darika, who represented Thailand at the Singapore-International Energy Agency (IEA) Forum, said the country’s reliance on imported LNG and pipeline natural gas from Myanmar left its energy supplies vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and other disruptions.

She emphasised the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors in strengthening energy security while supporting the transition to cleaner energy.

Thailand’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement include its third Nationally Determined Contribution, targeting a 47% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 levels by 2035, conditional on international support.

Ms Darika said these commitments would inform the Energy Ministry’s preparation of the Power Development Plan 2026, which remains under development.

The plan is intended to support Thailand’s long-term emissions targets while promoting cleaner electricity generation, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and keeping electricity affordable.

Thailand is also pursuing alternative energy sources and technologies, including solar and wind power, energy storage systems and modernisation of electricity grids.

Although LNG remains important to meeting the country’s energy requirements, Ms Darika said Thailand was seeking greater flexibility in gas procurement while expanding renewable energy development.

“For Thailand, LNG can support the energy transition, but it has not delayed the transition to cleaner energy,” she told the forum.

Public-private cooperation also extends to carbon capture and storage technology, with the ministry working alongside PTT and PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) on research and development.

One project under development at the Arthit gas field in the Gulf of Thailand is designed to capture and store up to 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. PTTEP expects carbon storage operations to begin in 2028.

Another initiative is planned for an industrial area in Rayong, where Ms Darika said field inspections were scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.

On international cooperation, she highlighted US$2.4 million (80.94 million baht) in World Bank grant funding for two climate-related initiatives, announced earlier this month.

Ms Darika also expressed interest in expanding bilateral energy cooperation, citing agreements involving Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) and counterparts in New Zealand and France announced during the event.

Thailand intends to pursue similar partnerships with other countries, she said.

The wider challenges facing Asian energy markets were discussed at the Singapore-IEA Forum, jointly organised by the EMA and IEA, where policymakers and industry executives examined growing electricity demand, declining domestic gas production and supply security.

Izumi Kai, chief executive of JERA Asia, said declining domestic gas production in several Asian countries was increasing the importance of LNG imports.

He stressed the need for greater flexibility in gas procurement and power infrastructure while making more efficient use of renewable energy.

JERA’s activities include equipment procurement, investment and the development and operation of power infrastructure to meet growing demand affordably while supporting cleaner energy production.

Tamura Hideyasu, deputy commissioner for international affairs at Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, advocated diversifying natural gas supplies.

He said Japan had held discussions with countries in Africa and South America, including Argentina, about opportunities to secure stable and affordable gas supplies.

Alan Heng, chief executive of Singapore GasCo, said long-term LNG contracts combined with a mix of purchasing arrangements could help manage price volatility and maintain supply reliability.

He stressed that countries needed to identify energy solutions suited to their circumstances as demand continued to grow.

Steve Kim, OCBC Bank’s head of structured and project finance, highlighted the importance of financing arrangements that would allow gas-fired power plants to operate flexibly.

He proposed paying power plants to maintain generation capacity even when they were not producing electricity.

Closer alignment between gas supply contracts and electricity sales agreements could also improve the financial viability of energy projects, he said.

The new owner of a prized fighting cock arrived in Buriram with 10 million baht in cash to seal the deal on Sunday.

Thanaphum Chuawanit, owner of Warithep fighting cocks farm in Ubon Ratchathani, arrived at K Phetburapha Farm in Lam Plai Mat district with the money to buy the 20-month-old rooster known as ‘F16’ from Rakchart Rattanawichai.

Mr Thanaphum said that with gold prices now falling he had sold 200 baht-weight of gold to buy the fighting cock because he believed it would be a better investment.

The purchase was finalised in the presence of cock-fighting enthusiasts from several provinces.

Mr Rakchart, the seller, said ‘F16’ was the offspring of a veteran fighting cock champion, a breeder at his farm, that had won three championships over the past two months.

According to Mr Rakchart, ‘F16’ weighs 2.75 kilogrammes and has had 10 fights, four of them organised with seven-digit bets.

In the latest fight, ‘F16′ won a 26.2-million-baht bet by eliminating his rival in the fifth round.’F16’ was outstanding for his quick, precise and deep strikes on opponents, Mr Rakchart said.

The Thai unit of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has assured customers that their assets remain safe after its parent company was hacked in what is being dubbed the biggest crypto heist in history.

The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it is monitoring exposure.

Binance is investigating a major cybersecurity incident with an estimated financial impact of US$6.3 billion. In response, its Thai affiliate temporarily suspended digital asset deposits and withdrawals as a precaution.

The incident came to light following reports of suspicious transactions involving digital assets linked to Binance. Initial estimates put the value of the transactions at about $5.7 billion, or 185 billion baht, before Binance revised its estimate of the total impact to $6.3 billion in an update on Oct 30.

A preliminary investigation suggests an attacker may have gained access through a compromised laptop belonging to a DevOps engineer, potentially enabling access to a service container and the submission of unauthorised withdrawal transactions.

Binance said it found no evidence that wallet private keys had been leaked, while emphasising that the investigation was ongoing as well as a detailed technical review.

The exchange worked with blockchain partners to freeze about $3 billion in affected assets on-chain, adding it would cover all losses using its Secure Asset Fund for Users and company funds, assuring customers that their assets remained safe.

In response to the incident, Binance suspended deposits and withdrawals while reviewing its security controls, revoking authorisations for affected addresses, and working with law enforcement agencies and blockchain intelligence partners to trace and recover the assets.

However, the amount frozen does not necessarily represent funds that have been fully recovered.

The incident has renewed concerns about cybersecurity risks at centralised cryptocurrency exchanges and the potential exposure of customers using platforms operating under the Binance brand in other markets.

ASSETS SECURE

Gulf Binance Co, the operator of Binance TH, said digital assets held by its Thai customers remained safe because its offline storage system was separate from Binance’s wallets.

The company said Binance TH operates as an independent legal entity with its own digital asset custody system, separate from that of the global exchange.

As a precaution, the company temporarily suspended digital asset deposits and withdrawals while its specialists conducted a comprehensive security review.

Other services on the Thai platform remain available as usual. Deposits and withdrawals will resume once the security checks are complete, although the company has yet to announce a specific reopening date.

Gulf Binance said protecting customer assets remained its highest priority and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining relevant security standards.

Binance TH announced yesterday afternoon it resumed normal trading, baht deposits and withdrawals, and digital asset deposits following initial system checks. However, digital asset withdrawals remain temporarily suspended as the company conducts further security reviews, despite finding no irregularities during its preliminary checks.

Gulf Binance said customers’ digital assets remained safe and withdrawals would resume as soon as possible. The company plans to announce the resumption of withdrawals through Binance TH’s official channels.

NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The SEC said it was monitoring Binance’s overseas operations and coordinated with licensed digital asset operators in Thailand to assess potential risks to customer assets.

Based on information reported by local operators, the regulator said it found no significant impact on customer assets held in their custody.

However, some assets potentially associated with transactions conducted through the overseas Binance platform remained under monitoring. The facts surrounding the incident and the extent of any potential losses are still being investigated.

The SEC instructed relevant operators to continue monitoring developments and assessing risks, verify the status and security of customer assets, and immediately report any incidents that could affect customer holdings or services.

Operators must also provide customers with accurate and timely information if service restrictions or other impacts arise.

The regulator stressed that the incident occurred on Binance’s overseas platform, which is not directly supervised by the Thai SEC. The commission is focused on monitoring licensed operators in Thailand and protecting investors who use their services.

The SEC also urged investors to follow official announcements, use only licensed digital asset operators and remain vigilant against scams seeking to exploit the incident to solicit asset transfers.

Investors can verify the licensing status of digital asset operators through the SEC’s official website at www.sec.or.th or contact the SEC Complaint Centre at 1207.

There are no signs of mass stockpiling of consumer goods, says a member of the Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Association.

Many countries, including the US, the UK, Japan and several European nations, have issued guidance encouraging households to stockpile essential supplies in preparation for emergencies, according to international media reports.

Last week, the UK government urged its citizens to prepare by keeping non-perishable food, bottled water for three days, a first aid kit, and cash. This preparation is for potential emergencies including severe weather and cyber-attacks.

“There are no signs of consumers stockpiling goods. In general, Thai consumers’ purchasing power is so weak that many already struggle to meet daily expenses. How can they afford to stockpile goods?” said Somchai Pornrattanacharoen, honorary advisor to the Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Association.

Although the fourth quarter is typically a high season for the local retail and wholesale sector, he said he expects the market to be sluggish this year.

Consumers’ reduced spending power is partly a result of recent flooding, which has affected the incomes of agricultural workers.

Diesel prices exceeded 42 baht, up from around 30 baht prior to the Middle East war, a gain of 40%, which will impact travel during the fourth quarter, said Mr Somchai.

Furthermore, the government’s subsidy budget is now depleted. Those eligible for the extension phase of the co-payment scheme may soon finish spending the subsidy, which could reduce demand in the retail and wholesale sector during this period, he noted.

The scheme’s extension period runs from October to November, providing a subsidy covering 60% of the total payment, capped at 200 baht per day and 1,000 baht over two months.

Mr Somchai recalled that during the recent floods in Bangkok and the central and eastern regions, there was a noticeable surge in demand for canned food and ready-to-eat meals.

Canned food producers are facing challenges, as rising energy costs have affected canned fish production, with fishing vessels making fewer trips, resulting in reduced supplies.

Wattanasak Sur-iam, director-general of the Department of Internal Trade, said the department is monitoring for any stockpiling.