"Chris" leads the Economic Party team in filing to revoke the political rights of "Chonnaphat" over involvement in money laundering and online gambling cases, urging the DSI to arrest him outside Parliament after the session ends on 11 July.
On 18 June 2026, at the Parliament, Mr. Chris Potranan, party leader and party-list MP of the Economic Party, along with Mr. Peeraphon Kanokwalai and Ms. Angsana Niamwanichkul, submitted a letter to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Ethics Committee requesting an ethics investigation into MP Chonnaphat Naksua. This concerns his use of parliamentary immunity to protect himself and refusal to appear before investigators after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) issued a notice to prosecute him for money laundering and online gambling.
Mr. Chris revealed that on 28 May, the DSI sent a letter to the House of Representatives requesting to bring MP Chonnaphat to face charges. On that day, the parliamentary session voted not to send him, aiming to protect the principle and immunity of MPs to independently oversee the government without fear of executive pressure. However, several MPs, including himself, openly urged Chonnaphat that if he believed in his innocence and considered the accusations as harassment, he should contact the DSI directly to clarify the facts and avoid burdening the House to protect him alone, which risks public misunderstanding that Parliament shields wrongdoers.
Mr. Chris further stated that over three weeks, nearly a month, have passed since then, yet Chonnaphat remains silent and refuses to prove his innocence to investigators, instead using Parliament's protection as a shield. The Economic Party views this behavior as highly unbecoming for a representative and politically unethical, sacrificing the honor of all MPs to protect only himself.
"Today, we submit this letter to the Ethics Committee to investigate this matter. If found guilty within the ethical framework, Chonnaphat must be immediately removed from his MP position. We urge the media and the public to closely monitor what decision the committee will announce," Mr. Chris said. .
Additionally, Mr. Chris sent a clear warning to government agencies, stating that MP immunity and protection will end immediately with the close of the parliamentary session on 11 July. He called on the DSI and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to be ready to summon Chonnaphat at Parliament immediately after that date, as the legal shield will no longer exist.
In conclusion, Mr. Chris emphasized that if Chonnaphat truly believes in his innocence, there is no need to wait until 11 July. He should immediately meet with the DSI and AMLO to enter the justice process today, to prove himself and uphold the honor of the House of Representatives.