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The Attorney General has decided to prosecute Chonnapat Naksua, Member of Parliament for Songkhla from the Kla Tham Party, and associates in a case involving money laundering and online gambling. Police have been ordered to bring all defendants to court.
On 8 April 2026 GMT+7 Chaiyarat Pawakanan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Office of the Attorney General, disclosed updates on the money laundering and online gambling cases involving Chonnapat Naksua, Songkhla MP from the Kla Tham Party, and associates. The cases are from Songkhla City Police Station and Hat Yai Police Station.
Case 1 originates from Songkhla City Police Station and is connected to a foundational case accusing Chonnapat Naksua (Defendant 1) and Phattharasak Saengsawang (Defendant 2) of jointly organizing gambling, using schemes to lure, assisting in announcements, advertising, or indirectly persuading others to play or bet in online gambling without official permission. The public prosecutor ordered no prosecution against Defendant 1 but charged Defendant 2. Later, Songkhla Provincial Court issued criminal judgment case number A.517/2568 on 13 May 2025 GMT+7, sentencing Defendant 2 to six months imprisonment, reduced to three months due to confession.
Regarding Case 1, investigators submitted a joint money laundering case file to the Songkhla Provincial Attorney's Office on 12 October 2022 GMT+7, naming Chonnapat (Defendant 1) and Phattharasak (Defendant 2). On 28 December 2022 GMT+7, the Songkhla Provincial Attorney declined to prosecute both defendants for money laundering and forwarded the case to Region 9 Police for legal review. On 27 April 2023 GMT+7, the Deputy Commander of Region 9 Police disagreed with the non-prosecution order and referred the matter to the Attorney General for a final decision.
The Attorney General ordered additional investigation on 9 June 2023 GMT+7. Subsequently, investigators submitted supplementary findings to the prosecutors, but these were incomplete. The Attorney General then mandated complete supplementary investigation results. On 3 December 2025 GMT+7, investigators submitted the full supplementary results as ordered. On 3 April 2026 GMT+7, the Attorney General reviewed the case and found Defendant 1 involved with assets derived from gambling offenses, which form the predicate crimes for money laundering. Defendant 1 was involved in transferring, receiving, or altering assets from these offenses to conceal their source. It is not necessary to rely on the predicate offense case or prior criminal convictions to proceed with money laundering charges. Furthermore, Defendant 1 is also implicated in jointly organizing online gambling, a case separated for trial involving Defendant 1 and Nattawut (Defendant 2), whom the Attorney General ordered prosecuted for online gambling. Therefore, Defendant 1's conduct constitutes money laundering.
In this case file, the Attorney General has ordered prosecution of Chonnapat (also known as Krit, Kit, or Kritch) Naksua (Defendant 1) and Phattharasak (also known as Tuck) Saengsawang (Defendant 2) on charges of jointly committing money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 (1999), Sections 3, 5, 60; Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amendment No. 4) B.E. 2556 (2013), Sections 5, 6; Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amendment No. 5) B.E. 2558 (2015), Sections 5, 7, 10; and the Penal Code, Section 83. Investigators are instructed to notify the Secretary of the Anti-Money Laundering Office regarding two seized vehicles as evidence, to proceed under Section 48 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542.
Section 83 of the Penal Code applies, and investigators are to notify the Secretary of the Anti-Money Laundering Committee to manage two seized vehicles as evidence in accordance with Section 48 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542.
. (This part is a continuation of the above and is combined with it.)
Case 2, from Hat Yai Police Station, accuses Chonnapat (Defendant 1) and Nattawut Chantra (Defendant 2) of jointly organizing gambling, using schemes to lure, assisting announcements, advertising, or directly or indirectly persuading others to play or bet in online gambling without official permission. They are also accused of jointly introducing distorted or false computer data into the system that could cause damage to others or the public. Investigators recommended no prosecution of Defendant 1 but prosecution of Defendant 2. The case file was submitted to the Songkhla Provincial Attorney on 14 November 2023 GMT+7. On 29 November 2023 GMT+7, the provincial attorney ordered no prosecution of both defendants.
On 11 March 2024 GMT+7, the Region 9 Police Commander disagreed with the non-prosecution order and referred the matter to the Attorney General for final decision. On 18 September 2024 GMT+7, the Attorney General ordered additional investigation. On 8 January 2026 GMT+7, investigators submitted supplementary findings as ordered. On 3 April 2026 GMT+7, the Attorney General ruled to prosecute Chonnapat (Defendant 1) and Nattawut (Defendant 2) for jointly organizing online gambling or using schemes to lure, assisting announcements, advertising, or directly or indirectly persuading others to play or bet in online gambling without official permission, under the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 (1935), Sections 4, 4 bis, 5, 12; Gambling Act (Amendment No. 7) B.E. 2504 (1961), Section 3; Penal Code, Section 83. Under the Attorney General's authority per the Attorney General and Public Prosecutors Organization Act B.E. 2553 (2010), Section 15, prosecution of Defendant 2 is authorized in the Provincial Court under the Court of Justice Act B.E. 2499 (1956), Section 9, as the statutory period for extension to prosecute Defendant 2 has expired.
Regarding the charge of jointly introducing distorted or false computer data into the system that could cause damage to others or the public, there is no investigative evidence that any computer data was distorted or falsified in whole or in part, or that false computer data likely caused harm to others or the public. However, the data did involve invitations to participate in gambling. Therefore, a final order was made not to prosecute both defendants on this charge. Additionally, there is an order to verify ownership of five firearms seized to determine if they belong to the defendants; if relevant, prosecutors are to present this evidence during trial.
The next step is for investigators to comply with the Attorney General's order and to bring Chonnapat, Phattharasak, and Nattawut to the prosecutors for filing charges in court.