Prosecutors pounce on ‘Benz Racing’

2 others also indicted in Lao ‘drug lord’ case

Prosecutors yesterday indicted Akarakit “Benz Racing” Worarojcharoendet and two other suspects for drug conspiracy linked to the suspected narcotics syndicate of arrested Lao national Xaysana Keopimpha.

The two others are Sansern “Natt” Rasanon and Angsuporn “Aum” Ina.

Pitak Obsuwan, director-general of the Office of the Attorney-General’s Department of Narcotics Litigation, yesterday said prosecutors indicted the three suspects for drug-related offences in connection with the alleged Lao drug lord’s network.

Their acts violated Sections 6 and 8 under the Measures for the Suppression of Offenders in An Offence Relating to the Narcotics Act, he said.

Mr Pitak said the suspects had to stand trial at the Criminal Court which may order them to testify on Monday, the day Mr Akarakit, husband of actress Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul, is required to report to the court at the end of his last period of detention.

He said the indictment was made yesterday as it would be difficult for investigators to take Mr Akarakit to court after his final detention period ends tomorrow.

The three are among five suspects the Narcotics Suppression Bureau earlier sought an indictment for. The charge was conspiracy to launder money in violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The two other suspects are Natthaphol “Boy” Nakkham and Napapa, who is required to report to the court on July 3.

Mr Pitak said it was possible prosecutors would proceed on a separate indictment first. However, they can ask the court to handle all offences as one case.

Meanwhile, Sitthichoke Treenet, Mr Akarakit’s lawyer, said his client would report to the court on Monday, adding a bail surety was prepared in the event that Mr Akarakit was detained.

Also yesterday, Akhom Kongsawat, Napapa’s lawyer, said he was confident prosecutors would not indict the actress on money laundering charges.

The lawyer said his client also filed a motion, calling on prosecutors to order police to conduct more investigations into periods before and after the money transfer between her husband and Mr Natthaphol.

She claimed she was shooting a drama at the time and did not know about the transfer.

As for 1.9 million baht wired by Mr Akarakit to her account, the actress also submitted a bank statement between 2015 and 2017 to authorities to prove her innocence that the money has not been touched.

Mr Akarakit is facing charges after police decided he was unable to properly explain his acquisition of luxury vehicles including a Lamborghini Gallardo, a KTM 1290 Super Duke motorbike and a BMW motorcycle.

Police said income from his bike accessories shop was not enough for him to afford the 20-million-baht Lamborghini, which they believed was acquired with money from the alleged Lao drug lord’s network. Investigators also found 300,000 baht had been transferred to his account each month by Mr Natthaphol.

Mr Akarakit also wired 1.9 million baht to his wife’s account. It is not clear whether the money she received is connected with the case, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Earlier, the ONCB decided not to bring drug conspiracy charges against the actress as investigators had not found any evidence linking her to the racket.