Profile of Chonnaphat Naksua, Songkhla MP from the Kla Tham Party, recently re-elected for a second term, previously had assets worth 159 million baht frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) due to money laundering links, leading to a house search by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and AMLO for evidence in an online gambling case.
On 6 Mar 2026, reporters reported that after the AMLO Transaction Committee resolved on 11 Nov 2025 to seize and freeze assets totaling 159 million baht belonging to Mr. Chonnaphat Naksua, Songkhla MP for the 4th district of the Kla Tham Party, and associates, due to financial trails linked to individuals involved in money laundering activities connected to Mr. Chonnaphat, the assets were temporarily frozen.
Most recently, on 5 Mar 2026, officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) together with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) conducted a search of Mr. Chonnaphat’s residence in Village 5, Kradangnga Subdistrict, Sathing Phra District, Songkhla Province, to gather additional evidence related to complaints involving an online gambling network.
Mr. Chonnaphat Naksua, nicknamed Krit, was born on 8 Sep 1989, currently aged 36. He hails from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. He completed secondary education at Srithammarat Suksa School, holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Thaksin University, and a master's degree in public administration from Bangkokthonburi University.
Mr. Chonnaphat entered politics by being elected as a Member of Parliament for the first time in 2023 under the Palang Pracharath Party. He defeated Mr. Chaiwut Phongphaeo, a two-term former MP from the Democrat Party, and Police Captain Arun Sawasdee, a one-term former MP from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party. Mr. Chonnaphat was the only Palang Pracharath MP elected in Songkhla Province. He later joined the Kla Tham Party and was appointed to its executive committee on 3 Feb 2025.
In the parliamentary election held on 8 Feb 2026, Mr. Chonnaphat ran for the 4th district of Songkhla under the Kla Tham Party and won re-election as MP. On 4 Mar 2026, he officially reported to the House of Representatives as an MP.
In business, Mr. Chonnaphat owns several ventures including real estate, a sportswear manufacturing factory, a medical equipment factory, and a boat rental tourism business. He was also formerly chairman of Nakhon Si United Football Club. On 24 Feb 2023, Mr. Chonnaphat was arrested with associates at Don Mueang Airport on charges related to online gambling but was granted bail two days later.
On 11 Nov 2025, the AMLO Transaction Committee resolved to temporarily freeze assets of Mr. Chonnaphat and associates amounting to 159 million baht for up to 90 days. These assets included cash, vehicles, land, securities trading accounts, and bank deposits totaling 69 items. AMLO investigated and compiled evidence on a group of individuals involved in organizing electronic gambling via online gambling websites. Financial trails connected to offenses under Section 3(9) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 (1999) were linked to Mr. Chonnaphat and associates, involving possible transfer, sale, concealment, or hiding of assets related to these offenses.
On 5 Mar 2026, officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) together with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) searched Mr. Chonnaphat’s residence in Village 5, Kradangnga Subdistrict, Sathing Phra District, Songkhla Province to collect additional evidence in a case involving complaints about an online gambling network. This search followed AMLO’s petition to the court to have Mr. Chonnaphat’s assets forfeited to the state after the court reviewed and found insufficient grounds to revoke the seizure and freezing of assets.
Meanwhile, on 6 Mar 2026 at 14:00, Police Lieutenant General Ruthaphon Naowarat, Minister of Justice, along with Police Lieutenant Colonel Yuttana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI); Lieutenant Commander Khemchat Prakaihongmanee, Director of the Technology and Information Crime Division; and Mr. Kamonsit Wongbutnoi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), will hold a joint press conference regarding the DSI’s crackdown on a large-scale online gambling network involving politicians with money flows exceeding one billion baht. The event will take place at the DSI’s Ratchaburidirekrit Building (Building A), Chaeng Watthana Road.