The Criminal Court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against People’s Party MP Rangsiman Rome by former Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun over Rangsiman’s February 2023 censure debate on Upakit’s business links to Tun Min Latt, a Myanmar tycoon with close ties to coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hliang.

On 17 February 2023, days after the censure debate, Upakit’s lawyer filed a criminal defamation lawsuit over the content of the speech, as well as a civil lawsuit demanding 100 million baht in damages.

Last Friday (31 January), Rangsiman wrote on his X (Twitter) account that the Criminal Court has dismissed the lawsuit, noting that the ruling affirms an MP’s privilege to speak in parliament about the country’s governance and keep the government in check, and that it is part of an MP’s job to communicate to the public about various issues in the country.

Rangsiman also told Matichon Online that he has not decided whether to file a counter suit against Upakit since he is waiting to see the result of another lawsuit Upakit filed against him, where proceedings will start in April 2025. He also said he would rather focus on real issues, like call centre scams.

Rangsiman’s lawyer Decha Yimamnuay also told Matichon Online that he believes the ruling will set a precedent for future defamation lawsuits and the court will rule that members of the public may keep public figures in check, and people would have to take into consideration before filing a lawsuit whether they are a public figure. Politicians must also be more ethical, he said.

In his censure debate speech on 15 February 2023, Rangsiman said that then-Senator Upakit was not only the founder and former major shareholder of the Thailand-based Allure Group (P&E) Co Ltd but also a co-founder of Myanmar Allure along with Tun Min Latt, while his son-in-law, Dean Young Gultula, was allegedly a former shareholder and board member of both companies.

Prachatai and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) also found in October 2022 that Upakit was wanted for arrest in connection with an alleged drug trafficking and money laundering ring operating out of a casino in the Golden Triangle, but the warrant was quickly retracted. A Thai news programme, meanwhile, reported that it never existed, while another outlet took down a story about the warrant without explanation.

Testimony from an inspector leading the team investigating drug and money laundering charges against Tun Min Latt and Dean Yong Gultula was leaked in March 2023, stating that executives in the Criminal Court, including Deputy Chief Justice Attakarn Foocharoen, had the arrest warrant for Upakit revoked. The testimony also noted that officers involved in charging Upakit were then involuntarily transferred to other posts, which has led them to believe that the transfers were made in order to stop them from investigating Upakit.

On 23 November 2023, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), seized over 285 million baht worth of Upakit’s assets after investigators found he was involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. The assets included 29 plots of land valued at 282 million baht. Their seizure was prompted after the ONCB discovered that some 600 million of Upakit’s assets had already been transferred out of the country.

In October 2022, the ONCB also seized 200,000 baht in cash from Upakit. On 23 November 2023, they seized 28 of his bank accounts linked to drug trafficking.