House to decide on Thursday whether to lift an MP’s immunity

The House of Representatives is scheduled to decide next Thursday whether to let the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) charge Kla Tham party MP for Songkhla Chonnapat Naksua with alleged involvement in online gambling operations and a transnational criminal network.

DSI Director General Yutthana Praedam sent an urgent letter on May 16, addressed to Speaker of the House Sophon Zaram, seeking permission to question and charge Chonnapat after the attorney-general gave the greenlight to the DSI to pursue criminal litigation against him.

MPs and senators are protected by parliamentary immunity when in session. Any arrest or detention of any House member or senator requires permission from either the speaker of House or Senate.

Last November, the DSI and the Anti-Money Laundering Office impounded Chonnapat’s assets, estimated at 159 million baht, due to suspicion that they were linked to online gambling operations.

The online gambling operations are alleged to have amassed about one billion baht in revenue before being closed down by the police. About 36 suspects, including Chonnapat, have or are to be charged, with some of them already convicted.