Nattapong revealed that Phawut is ready to clear up the Forex issue and urged the DSI to clearly present the allegations. He declined to comment on whether the selection committee should resign if wrongdoing is confirmed, and expressed suspicion about the Police Chief's dissenting opinion in the case of the former candidate for Bangkok's constituency 33 after the People's Party made disclosures.
On 24 Jun 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Nattapong Rueangpanyawut, a party-list MP of the People's Party, spoke about progress in gathering facts from Mr. Phawut Pongwittayaphanu, also a party-list MP, who is a suspect in the Forex case. He said Phawut is ready to explain and, based on discussions with him, will be fully prepared to perform his duties tomorrow. He asked the public to await Phawut's direct explanation, believing the communications via his page have repeatedly demonstrated his sincerity and willingness to provide all information the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) requires. Meanwhile, the internal fact-finding committee's findings align with Phawut's Facebook posts, but since the committee was recently formed, they need some time to work. He confirmed that the People's Party's internal review is proceeding in parallel.
When asked if Phawut's recent post was prompted by Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul, the party's deputy leader, Nattapong said that before her comments, they had already been in discussion with Phawut and were not neglecting the matter. However, society is questioning whether the DSI's actions are fair or politically motivated. On the other hand, they must be cautious in how they communicate to avoid harming the case or Phawut himself. He believes the legal team is trying to find an approach for Phawut to address suspicions without placing him in a difficult position or falling into a trap set by political opponents aiming to politicize the case.
Asked about the possibility of this case being elevated to a special case related to a pyramid scheme, Nattapong responded that if anyone within the party, especially members, is involved, they are ready to manage their own accordingly. He then turned the question back to the government side, urging state agencies, particularly the DSI, to fully act against all involved parties if they have such information.
Regarding whether they would submit explanations to the DSI proactively or wait for a summons, Nattapong said their internal process is proactive, but since Phawut is currently only a suspect, not a defendant, and the specific accusations are unclear, they do not yet know how to respond. Therefore, they expect the DSI to clarify what charges Phawut faces. He is confident that Phawut is ready to provide full explanations and information.
When asked about the most serious scenario, if Phawut is found guilty and moves from suspect to defendant, whether the People's Party's MP selection committee must resign, Nattapong said they apply the same standards. He cited the example of the former candidate for Bangkok's constituency 33, who was not prosecuted by the attorney due to insufficient evidence, despite having charges and an arrest warrant. He believes candidates must uphold standards higher than legal minimums. He added that they will await the weight of the accusations and, if credible evidence shows involvement, they will act by the same standards. He hopes Phawut's case will not resemble the former candidate's.
Regarding the Police Chief's dissenting opinion in the case of the former candidate for Bangkok's constituency 33 and how the People's Party will assist, Nattapong said that the attorney has not yet decided not to prosecute. The decision to dissent lies with the Police Chief. He assessed that the Police Chief's action seems to have been publicly announced by their own side. He questioned whether this is a political issue or political harassment of the former candidate. He suggested that the justice process should avoid selective treatment and proceed equally and within an appropriate timeframe, rather than reacting to political issues with such actions.
When asked if he believes the People's Party is being silenced, Nattapong said they are already prepared for political litigation and such attacks, which may be politically motivated cases. Overall, they are working to push laws related to preventing strategic lawsuits aimed at silencing critics.
When asked about his outlook on the political landscape going forward, Nattapong said