Mr Ratchapong, the incumbent MP for Constituency 2, will not be replaced, according to party leader Natthaphong Ruangpanyawut.
Mr Ratchapong, 32, was detained after Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau police arrested him at his Bangkok residence on Wednesday (Jan 14), reports the Bangkok Post. Investigators identified multiple bank accounts used to receive gambling proceeds, which were eventually transferred to his account.
His situation worsened when the Criminal Court denied his bail request on Thursday, citing concerns that he might flee given his alleged role as a ringleader in the operation.
Police brought Mr Ratchapong before the Criminal Court for a 12-day detention, opposing his release on bail.
His lawyer offered B250,000 in surety, but due to the serious nature of the allegations and the investigating officer’s objections, the court found reasonable grounds to believe he posed a flight risk and rejected the bail request.
Mr Natthaphong said that the People’s Party learned of Mr Ratchapong’s previous complaints on Wednesday night, although none were directly related to the current case. The party has launched an investigation that includes checks of criminal records and direct questioning, as Mr Ratchapong had previously denied any involvement.
The People’s Party has positioned itself as a leader in the campaign to eliminate the influence of grey capital and corruption in Thailand.
Mr Ratchapong is the second candidate to be suspended in this election campaign. They previously replaced Boonyarit Raorungrot, their candidate for Constituency 33 in Bangkok, after he was arrested on money laundering charges linked to drug trafficking in December.
Mr Natthaphong said that the party’s background checks for candidates involve police criminal record requests, local public consultations and interviews with party members. However, he acknowledged that his party does not have access to the same information as law enforcement.
Immediate action
Upon learning of the allegations against Mr Ratchapong, the party acted promptly and will follow internal rules should further details arise. He stressed the importance of a fair investigation, noting that the party’s legal team is reviewing police evidence and is in communication with the accused. Decisive action will be taken if clear evidence of guilt is established.
“We cannot fully verify every aspect of a person’s background or behaviour,” Mr Natthaphong said. “What builds public trust is the party’s ability to act swiftly and transparently upon becoming aware of any factual evidence.”
He reiterated that the People’s Party’s commitment to reject any questionable conduct and emphasised that the accused must navigate the judicial process to prove their innocence, reflecting the party’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and crimes against national security.