BANGKOK — Thailand's state prosecutor has indicted a member of the Senate on six counts including drug trafficking, money laundering and links to transnational criminal organizations, according to a statement received Friday by Thailand's attorney general's office.
Upakit Pachariyangkun pleaded not guilty to all charges when he appeared before the Bangkok Criminal Court on Thursday and was allowed to pay 10 million baht (28.).$60,000) bailed.
Upaji's case is related to that of Tun Min Latt. Tun Myint Lah is an influential businessman from neighboring Myanmar and is said to have close ties to Myanmar's ruling military, especially to the Myanmar army commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. The general came to power in February 2021 after overthrowing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's elected people**.
The case against all of them involves allegations of laundering illegal profits through a power company controlled by Tun Myint La and Upaji, despite the latter's claim to have ** his stake when he was appointed to the Senate in 2019.
Myanmar is a major producer and exporter of illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, most of which enter Thailand for local consumption or transit.
Thailand and Myanmar** reported that Upaki and Tun Myint Lah had common interests in several companies. Including a casino in Myanmar and a power company in Thailand.
Myanmar's independence and activist groups reported that Tun Myint Lah was a broker for the military. The United States imposed sanctions on him, his wife, and several of his companies for their role in supporting the military. Washington has been shunning the military as it seizes power and continues its violent repression of the opposition.
In September last year, Tun Myr-la was charged with drug trafficking and money laundering in Thailand**. He was joined by three Thai citizens, including Upaji's Thai-American son-in-law, Dean Gultula. They pleaded not guilty to the charges in January and are currently awaiting trial.
Thailand's Drug Control Authority announced that in the past few months, they have searched several residences in Upaki and seized more than 400 million baht ($11.5 million) worth of property that it suspects was illegally obtained.
The court is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 13 to review the evidence against Upakit. Autumn and Winter Check-in Challenge