Senators have voted against a police summons being served on Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun over drug trafficking allegations following a debate where he defended himself.

<p>A businessman with alleged ties to Myanmar&rsquo;s junta leader, along with four other defendants, pleaded not guilty to money laundering and drug trafficking charges. The policeman spearheading the arrest has been transferred from Bangkok.</p>

<p>Prosecutors in Thailand have indicted a U.S. citizen and an accused arms dealer from Myanmar for their alleged roles in laundering drug money by purchasing energy from a Thai state-owned company, and sending it over the border to be sold in Myanmar.</p>