Police to seek approval to detain drug suspect’s wife

>> Police are set to seek court approval to detain actress Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul as she has been summoned to acknowledge a charge of money laundering tomorrow.

Ms Napapa earlier had 1.9 million baht wired to her bank account by her husband, Akarakit Worarojcharoendet, a suspect in an alleged drug ring led by Lao national Xaysana Keopimpha.

According to police, Mr Akarakit received the money from Natthaphol “Boy” Nakkham, another suspect in the Xaysana drug case.

Ms Napapa on Tuesday failed to report to police to acknowledge the charge, prompting the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) to seek a warrant for her arrest from the court.

However, the court ordered police to summon her instead.

Ms Napapa was then summoned to appear before police tomorrow.

NSB spokesman Sunthorn Chalermkiat said after the actress acknowledges the charge, she has the right to plead either guilty or not guilty.

Police will then take her to the court to seek her detention, Pol Maj Gen Sunthorn said. At the court, she could submit a bail request and the approval will rest with the court, he said.

He insisted the police did not try to bully her and the charge brought against the actress is based on evidence. He also called on the public to understand police work.

Akhom Kongsawat, a lawyer for the actress, said 500,000 baht has been prepared as a surety to seek her bail request with the court. The actress would also explain why she failed to report to police last Tuesday, he added.

According to the lawyer, Ms Napapa said she received 1.9 million baht from her husband on the grounds of an intimate relationship, but her husband must be asked how he got that money.