Category: The Bangkok Post

Chonnapat Naksua, a Klatham Party MP for Songkhla, on Thursday denied allegations linking him to a gambling network after activist Atchariya Ruangrattanapong claimed a politician whose name starts with ‘Ch’ was connected to gambling websites.

Mr Chonnapat said financial transactions cited by Mr Atchariya stemmed from an investigation in 2021 that had already been thoroughly examined. The MP insisted he had no ties to any criminal network.

‘The documents relate to a past case that has already gone through the process. There’s nothing new here,’ he said, adding that he had no personal conflict with Mr Atchariya and questioned the activist’s motive in reviving a matter he considers resolved.

In defence of his colleague, Capt Thamanat Prompow, Klatham’s chief adviser and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, said the allegations dated back to before Mr Chonnapat entered politics and had already undergone judicial scrutiny.

‘Mr Chonnapat deserves the opportunity to explain himself,’ Capt Thamanat said. ‘Many politicians have pasts, but what matters is whether they have already gone through due process. We must avoid using old cases as political weapons.’

Capt Thamanat added that Klatham would strengthen its vetting process for future members and candidates to ensure transparency and prevent similar controversies.

While the case is being treated as an individual matter, the party’s legal and strategic teams will monitor any potential impact on the party’s reputation.

Mr Chonnapat’s statement came after Mr Atchariya, chairman of the Help Crime Victims Club, on Wednesday submitted to the justice minister what he said was financial evidence linking a southern politician to online gambling networks. He claimed that more than 72 million baht had been transferred to the politician and that a previous case was dropped after an arresting officer withdrew his testimony.

Meanwhile, opposition People’s Party MP Rangsiman Rome, who chairs the House Committee on National Security and Border Affairs, said the panel would investigate the alleged connection between politicians and Cambodia-based scam operations.

The committee had also summoned several politicians, but none appeared.

International licensing products and services will be presented during the Licensing Show Asean 2025, which will take place at Bitec’s Bhiraj Hall 1, Bang Na-Trat Road, from Nov 4-6.

Organised by Kavin Intertrade, this is the first of its IP-focused events in Thailand and the Asean region that aim to connect opportunities across multiple industries including characters, animation, e-sports, e-games, books, lifestyle products, collectables and entertainment media.

This international trade exhibition will feature 50 companies from five countries — Thailand, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore — showcasing over 150 characters. It expects to attract over 2,000 participants from 15 countries.

Participants will include brand owners, IP creators and business operators from various industries seeking to expand their enterprises through the licensing model, which has seen remarkable global growth and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition to the exhibition, the event will present skill-up seminars and in-depth workshops covering more than 25 topics under three main themes — “Trendy Of The Day”, “Lifestyle” and “Entertainment Business” — delivered by experts from both the public and private sectors across the three days.

Among the highlights on Nov 4 are “Future Of The Copyright Industry” by the Department of Intellectual Property at 11.15am, “The Key To Creative Growth For Thai SMEs” at 2pm and “The Role Of Intellectual Property In Modern Art And Design” at 4pm.

Other topics in the same afternoon include “Strategies For Managing And Protecting Your Brand” at 11am, “Generating Revenue From Your Intellectual Property” at 2pm, “Growing Your Business Through Franchising And Intellectual Property” at 3pm and “IP Rush” at 4pm.

A former election commissioner has criticised a decision by the Senate to pursue a ‘serious ethical misconduct’ case against Senator Nantana Nantavaropas, calling it a ‘biased judgement’ by the upper chamber’s majority.

In a Facebook post, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said that although the Senate’s 130-26 vote far exceeded the required three-fifths majority to endorse the findings of an ethics panel, the ruling had set a questionable precedent that might fail to convince the public.

The public already has a dim view of the Senate given the ongoing investigations into allegations of widespread vote-rigging in the 2024 election. The vote resulted in an unusually high number of winners affiliated with the Bhumjaithai Party – now leading the government – and its base in Buri Ram province.

Ms Nantana is among the small minority of senators considered to have been elected legitimately. She has pushed unsuccessfully to delay votes in the upper house to approve appointments to powerful independent bodies – the same ones that could end up investigating corrupt senators.

The Senate ethics committee found her guilty of serious misconduct for belittling a fellow senator as ‘a pork seller’ after losing a committee seat to her.

The committee ruled that Ms Nantana’s comments showed prejudice against certain professions, disrespected human dignity and tarnished the Senate’s reputation.

Mr Somchai argued that the decision reflected double standards, noting that other senators accused of verbal or even sexual misconduct had never faced comparable disciplinary action.

The Code of Ethics for Senators follows the same ethical standards applied to members of the Constitutional Court, independent agencies, MPs, senators and cabinet ministers, he said.

It is divided into three main sections: Section 1 on ideological ethics, Section 2 on core values, and Section 3 on general ethics, he said. The Senate’s version includes an additional Section 4, which specifically governs the ethical conduct of senators and committee members in performing their official duties.

If there was any ethical violation in Ms Nantana’s case, it would likely fall under Clause 31, Section 4 of the code, said Mr Somchai.

The clause stipulates that members ‘must respect the rights and personal freedoms of other members, committee members, and individuals, refrain from using impolite language, making slanderous or sarcastic remarks, or presenting false information during meetings or debates’.

Under the code, violations of Section 1 are automatically deemed ‘serious misconduct’. Violations of other sections are not considered serious unless the behaviour, intent, position, responsibilities, age, personal record, motives, context and impact of the act justify such a classification, according to Mr Somchai.

For non-serious violations, the Senate may issue a reprimand or warning with a simple majority vote. For serious misconduct, a three-fifths majority is required to forward the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for possible removal proceedings.

‘Political weapons’

The NACC must now decide whether to proceed with the case and, if so, forward it to the Supreme Court to rule on whether Ms Nantana should lose her position.

‘Ethical standards meant to guide political behaviour are now being used as political weapons,’ Mr Somchai wrote. ‘We must wait and see how the NACC and the court handle this case.’

Wat Tingsamit, a former senior judge, said he was not convinced the NACC would uphold the Senate’s ruling.

He further questioned why the alleged vote-rigging case involving 136 senators has yet to be sent to the Supreme Court by the NACC and the Election Commission (EC).

‘How long must this nation remain in darkness?’ he wrote on Facebook, alluding to alleged manipulation within the Upper House.

In a related move, a group of 10 reserve senators led by Kamrop Panyakaew petitioned the Supreme Court to order the EC to submit its findings on the vote-rigging case within a week and suspend the 136 senators implicated.

The group said the EC investigation, launched more than a year ago, has shown little progress.

The Department of Special Investigation is pursuing a separate criminal probe, focusing on alleged money laundering linked to the vote-rigging activities. It has said it needs to question about 1,200 witnesses across 45 provinces.

Asset management companies (AMCs) expect roughly 50% of special mention (SM) loans to continue to deteriorate into non-performing loans (NPLs) over the next three years.

SM loans — defined as debt overdue for more than 60 days but not exceeding 90 days — amount to 1.25 trillion baht in the entire banking system. Of this amount, 849 billion baht comes from business loans, while the remaining 402 billion originates from the household sector, according to Rak Vorrakitpokatorn, chief executive of Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM), the country’s largest AMC.

“If the Bank of Thailand’s debt relief measures expire, around 50% of SM loans could turn into NPLs,” he said.

“As a result, a substantial volume of bad debt may be transferred to AMCs over the next three years.”

Thailand has 86 AMCs managing a combined total of about 1 trillion baht in NPLs.

Commercial banks hold around 520 billion baht in NPLs, while specialised financial institutions account for 330 billion baht.

Suthirak Traichira-Aporn, chief executive of JMT Network Services, a debt collection and management company, said he projects around 10% of SM loans to reach NPL status next year.

“If debt assistance measures are withdrawn, the migration rate could exceed 10% and potentially reach 50%,” he said.

JMT specialises in consumer and unsecured loans, which account for 92% of the NPLs under its management. The remaining 8% consists of secured loans, mainly mortgage-related.

According to JMT, SM loans in the consumer segment have risen steadily, from 383 billion baht in the first quarter of 2024 to 416 billion in the fourth quarter.

However, in 2025 SMs have declined slightly, dropping from 414 billion baht in the first quarter to 403 billion in the second quarter, noted the company.

With the continued rise in consumer NPLs, JMT allocated 2 billion baht in fresh capital for bad debt acquisitions next year.

The company expects auto loan NPL sales to increase, reflecting the growing fragility of that business segment.

In addition, Mr Suthirak revealed JMT is in discussions with several major local banks about establishing new joint venture AMCs (JV-AMCs).

However, he said the company is awaiting the central bank’s revised regulations on JV-AMC conditions before making any commitments.

JMT operates JK AMC, a joint venture with Kasikornbank (KBank), which manages individual bad debts from KBank’s portfolio.

In the second quarter of 2025, JK AMC reported increased cash collections to 865 million baht, up from 835 million the previous quarter, according to JMT’s financial statement filed with the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

In a celebration of ambition and educational vision, Brighton College Bangkok officially opened its newly completed Sixth Form Centre, a dynamic space created to inspire independent thinking and academic excellence among senior pupils. The launch drew an impressive gathering of distinguished guests, parents, staff and pupils who came together to mark this significant milestone in the College’s journey. More than just a new building, the Sixth Form Centre represents Brighton’s continued investment in the future – a place where young people are encouraged to think boldly, lead with kindness and prepare for success at the world’s top universities.

The opening ceremony highlighted Brighton College’s vision to provide an environment where pupils can develop the Curiosity, Confidence and Kindness that define the Brighton ethos. Guests were given an exclusive tour of the Centre, featuring modern collaborative learning spaces, study lounges and guidance areas that mirror the design philosophy of Brighton College.

Empowering pupils for global success

The Sixth Form at Brighton College Bangkok offers far more than academic preparation. Pupils receive individualised university guidance through a joint team of UK and Thailand counsellors, ensuring that every student benefits from the expertise of both local and international advisors. This dual approach helps each pupil identify the best-fit university and prepare competitive applications for leading institutions worldwide.

As part of the Brighton experience, Sixth Form pupils also participate in an exclusive UK University Guidance Trip, where they visit Brighton College in the UK, meet their peers and explore top university campuses such as Cambridge, Imperial College and King’s College London. This journey deepens their understanding of the Brighton DNA – a philosophy rooted in intellectual curiosity, creativity, and compassion.

Developing leadership and purpose

Brighton’s Sixth Form experience is designed to nurture leadership and independence. Pupils have the opportunity to serve as Head Pupils and House Captains, leading initiatives that shape the school community. They also gain exposure to global issues through participation in the Model United Nations (MUN), Medical Conferences, developing their own community outreach initiatives and other academic enrichment programmes that foster critical thinking and collaboration.

Excellent exam results

This academic year, Brighton College Bangkok celebrated record-breaking examination results at both A Level and IGCSE, reaffirming its position as one of Thailand’s leading international schools. Pupils achieved an exceptional proportion of top-band grades, with a significant number earning A* and A results across multiple subjects. Many of the College’s Sixth Form graduates have taken up places at some of the world’s most prestigious universities, including University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, King’s College London, the University of Warwick, the University of Durham, Emory University, Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University and Thammasat University. These results highlight not only the academic strength of Brighton pupils but also the College’s unwavering commitment to nurturing ambition, resilience, and global-minded excellence.

Upcoming opportunities to discover more

Brighton College Bangkok welcomes families to experience its distinctive Sixth Form education through upcoming events:

A Chinese man has been arrested on charges of selling contraband cigarettes from China after police seized 65,000 packs in raids on a secret room at his residence and a deserted building in Bangkok.

The untaxed goods worth 6 million baht were the biggest lot of smuggled Chinese cigarettes that Thai police had ever seized, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Jarupat, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division, said on Thursday.

The suspect, identified as Fang Weixin, 34, was apprehended on Wednesday when officers raided two locations in Bangkok.

The first location was a house in Ratchadaphisek Soi 10 in Huai Khwang district, where officers found 20,000 cigarette packs in 40 boxes. The goods had been hidden in an underground room, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum said. Computers and mobile phones were also found there.

The second location was a deserted commercial building in Lat Phrao Soi 23 in Chatuchak district. Police found another 45,000 packs in 90 boxes. (Story continues below)

The police investigation, coordinated by the Excise Department and the Tobacco Authority of Thailand, revealed that Mr Fang was an administrator of a Telegram group that had over 4,000 members.

The suspect admitted he had been selling the goods through the Telegram group and TikTok platform, advertising quality shipping services, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum said. Police monitoring the Ratchadaphisek residence reported many delivery riders arriving daily to pick up items there.

The suspect reportedly told police that he had a Chinese boss who lives in Cambodia and has a company in Phnom Penh, engaged in advertising and shipping as well as smuggling.

Mr Fang claimed he earned a salary of 50,000 baht a month plus commission for selling the contraband cigarettes, and he had been doing the job for a year, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum said.

The Excise Department estimated the tax losses from the smuggling at 4 million baht. Under the Excise Act, it can fine offenders anywhere from 5 to 20 times the amount lost. In this case, it would propose a fine of 60 million baht, police said.

The investigation is continuing to determine if the case is linked to any scam gangs in Cambodia, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum said.

Air quality in the capital during the annual haze season should be more manageable than in previous years, following the introduction of measures to control pollution caused by large vehicles, says the Bangkok governor.

Speaking at the launch of the “Green List Plus” campaign at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Chadchart Sittipunt said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is prepared for the haze season, which typically begins in December.

Mr Chadchart said he hopes Bangkok will experience fewer days when PM2.5 dust particles exceed the safe limit this year, after the city was declared a pollution control zone.

He said 10 measures have been introduced to tackle the problem, particularly in the transport sector. One prohibits the entry of six-wheel vehicles into all 50 districts, except those registered under the Green List, a scheme designed to regulate toxic emissions.

In addition, the BMA, in collaboration with automobile manufacturers, will launch a campaign encouraging car owners to clean their engines by offering discounts. The city expects around 500,000 vehicles to take part in the initiative.

The measures also lower the permissible opacity level for black smoke from diesel-run vehicles, from a maximum of 30% to 20%. Vehicles exceeding this limit will be banned from operating in the city. For the industrial sector, Mr Chadchart said boiler plants must install pollutant measuring equipment known as the Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS).

He added Bangkok will seek cooperation from neighbouring provinces to curb burning activities in farmland, particularly in paddy and sugar cane fields. The city is also considering reinstating the “work from home” policy after last year’s implementation reduced traffic by 14%.

Bangkok also plans to establish 1,966 anti-dust rooms for young children, about half of which have already been completed.

“Please have confidence in our measures. The city is expected to see improved air quality, with up to 15% fewer days of poor air compared with last year’s 44 days of bad air quality,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin said he would invite governors of five neighbouring provinces to discuss measures to reduce farmland burning — a major cause of haze pollution in the capital. He urged local administrative organisations to play a more proactive role in assisting farmers who wish to adopt alternatives to open burning.

Thai tennis players, who strike gold at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, will pocket a one-million-baht bonus each, the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand announced on Wednesday.

A meeting of the LTAT executive committee was held on Wednesday at the National Tennis Development Center in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi. The session was chaired by association president Suchai Pornchaisakudom.

During the meeting, Suchai dwelled on preparations for the tennis competition at the 33rd SEA Games, which Thailand will host from Dec 9-20.

He urged all committees to ensure the tournament was organised to the highest standard, while also emphasising the importance of preparing Thai athletes for the challenge.

All tennis matches will take place at the National Tennis Development Center, with seven gold medals at stake.

In a bid to inspire the national squad, Suchai announced a personal incentive for the national team players. “To boost the morale of our tennis players, who will be competing on home soil for Thailand, I will personally reward each SEA Games gold medal with one million baht,” he declared.

The pledge applies to every event in which Thai athletes capture the top prize.

Thailand’s tennis team for the 2025 SEA Games will feature five men: Maximus Parapol Jones, Kasidit Samrej, Pawit Sornlaksup, Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul and Pruchya Isaro.

The Kingdom’s women’s squad includes Mananchaya Sawangkaew, Lanlana Tararudee, Thasaporn Naklo, Patcharin Cheapchandej and Peangtarn Plipuech.

The team will be managed by association vice president Wichet Teepakorn.

The men’s team will be coached by Dr Thanakorn Srichaphan, while the women’s side will be led by Pacharapol Khamsaman.

With strong home support and the added incentive from their president, Thailand’s tennis players are aiming to deliver standout performances at the region’s biggest sporting stage.

The government is being urged to recruit more shops to join the Khon La Khrueng Plus co-payment scheme, as spending on its first day was disappointing, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

However, the government has taken a different view, with spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat reporting robust economic activity on Wednesday, with total spending reaching 1.9 billion baht.

He said the highest spending total was recorded at the government-run Thong Fah (Blue Flag) shops at 709 million baht, followed closely by food and drinks shops at 697 million baht.

Thanavath Phonvichai, the UTCC president, offered a different set of figures. He said government data indicated eligible Thais spent an average of only 250 baht each, totalling 750 million baht from 3 million participants on the first day.

‘This means consumers are primarily purchasing essential items. The scheme is failing to encourage people to spend more than normal, which is what was expected to lift the economy,’ he said on Thursday.

It is not clear why there was such a large discrepancy between the government’s figures and those of the university.

Mr Thanavath attributed the disappointing figures to limited participation by shops, as roughly 600,000 are registered, representing only 20% of the total number of small and medium-sized enterprises that could participate.

He called on the government to encourage more businesses to join the scheme, saying that higher participation could enable this initiative to better support GDP growth, aiming for a 2% increase in economic expansion this year.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as the interior minister, has directed local officials to work with Krungthai Bank in setting up mobile units to help vendors across the country register to expand shop participation.

Mr Anutin has also instructed community development offices to invite One Tambon One Product shops to join the scheme and organise weekly fairs, if possible, to increase sales channels, Mr Siripong said.

Authorities are investigating a private clinic in Bo Win district of this eastern province after a father alleged staff poured hot water on his feverish three-and-a-half-year-old son, causing third-degree burns.

The Lao migrant worker said he took his son to the clinic on Wednesday for treatment of a high fever. Shortly after receiving an injection, the child went into shock. The doctor reportedly instructed staff to place a cloth on the child’s chest and pour warm water over him, followed by hot water twice more, causing the skin to blister. The child screamed in pain.

The doctor reportedly claimed the method was intended to revive the child from shock, though medical experts confirm this is not correct treatment protocol.

The father rushed his son to Rayong Hospital, where doctors admitted him to intensive care, stating the boy could have died if treatment had been delayed further.

Clinic’s response

Following the incident, the clinic claimed no wrongdoing. A senior staff member reportedly made reference to relatives working as a prosecutor and in public health.

A clinic assistant claimed the method used on the boy was equivalent to electrical stimulation.

As news of the controversy spread online, the doctor’s wife telephoned the father offering to provide care, claiming she had miscommunicated because she doesn’t speak Lao. She reportedly insisted the clinic could clean wounds better than hospitals.

Patient complaints

Since the news broke, other former patients have come forward with complaints about the doctor’s behaviour, including:

Using vulgar language and swearing at patients

Refusing to treat factory workers

Becoming angry when patients asked if medicine would cure them

Refusing examinations, saying ‘go check somewhere else, I can’t be bothered’.

Some patients alleged the doctor challenged them to physical fights and claimed to know influential people.

Official action

The Be One Foundation accompanied the family to meet officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Rights and Liberties Protection Department on Wednesday.

Provincial welfare officials will coordinate hospital care and assess the child’s psychological condition. The Rights and Liberties Protection Department will assist with compensation claims.

Authorities confirmed the doctor holds a valid medical licence and the clinic is legally registered.

The Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office has ordered the clinic temporarily closed pending investigation results. The case will be referred to the Medical Council of Thailand for an ethics investigation.