Senator denies any Myanmar drug links
Upakit speaks out over MFP claims
A tearful Senator Upakit Pacharirangkun denied allegations of involvement in drug trafficking yesterday, saying false evidence had been created to set him up for political gain.
The appointed senator, now in the media spotlight over his alleged links with Myanmar national Tun Min Latt, who was arrested on a drug-related charge last year, held a press conference to counter allegations made by Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Rangsiman Rome.
Sen Upakit apologised to the media for his late response to the allegations levelled against him but said he had decided to keep quiet not to affect the case.
The opposition MP and some media outlets have already drawn their own conclusions that he was guilty, Sen Upakit said, adding he did not wish to interfere with the judicial process.
Mr Rangsiman told parliament last month that “a senator” was a long-time business partner of Tun Min Latt, who was arrested in Bangkok on Sept 17.
Ex-national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk on Tuesday denied having lobbied police investigators or agreed to act as a witness in criminal cases connected to the accused senator.
It was reported earlier that a letter written by a police inspector had circulated on social media detailing how police arrested Tun Min Latt. During the interrogation, the suspect reportedly implicated the senator.
On Oct 3, the Criminal Court approved a warrant against the senator on charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering, according to the letter.
Mr Rangsiman said a top-level police officer with the Thai initial “Sor” may have meddled to have the warrant for the senator’s arrest cancelled.
Sen Upakit denied any links with Tun Min Latt and insisted he was not an influential figure. He cited the case of his son-in-law, who was arrested at his home on Sukhumvit Soi 69 in Bangkok last year.
“If I were an influential man as alleged, my son-in-law would not have been behind bars for seven months. If police wanted to help, they would have helped that day. But my son-in-law has been in jail for seven months. My grandchildren are crying every day. Their mother also phones and cries every day. But I couldn’t help at all,” said the senator, with tears rolling down his face.
On claims that police investigators handling the drug case had subsequently been transferred, the senator said he lacked the power to make and execute decisions like that.
The officers affected by the transfer order may not have racked up any work achievements over the past 3-4 months, except for the case of Tun Min Latt, said the senator. Besides, they were moved to assume similar-level positions, and their transfers were not a form of punishment, he added.
If he had wielded influence over the transfers, they might have been moved to remote areas, he added.
The senator denied allegations that he had laundered money from the drug trade through an electricity supply business operating on the ThaiMyanmar border.
Attempts have been made to link him with Tun Min Latt, the senator acknowledged. He questioned whether there was a conspiracy afoot to bring the Myanmar suspect’s case to public attention for political gain.
He also asked whether Pol Lt Col Manaphong Wongphiwat, a police inspector at Phaya Thai police station, was close to the MFP. The police officer leaked the letter on social media, and the opposition party used that to attack him, said the senator. He claimed he and his family were political victims.
After giving his remarks, Sen Upakit put the palms of his hands together in a wai and said: “I swear before all sacred things in the world that my family and I never got involved in the illicit drug trade as accused. We never thought about this, never did that, and never will do that. [I curse] those who made these wrong accusations against me.”