Actress ‘unaware’ of spouse’s drug ring
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| Benz, Patt |
Actress Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul insists she knows nothing of her husband’s alleged links to a drugs ring, and says the millions of baht which drug-busters found in her bank account are legitimate earnings.
She came out fighting against media claims she is implicated in the money laundering saga, insisting she does not know all of her husband’s financial affairs, and nor does he know hers.
Patt was speaking after five hours of questioning at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau on Friday. The actress and the mother of her embattled husband, speed racer Akarakit “Benz” Woraroj-
charoendet, reported to the bureau to help with their inquiries into a Laos drugs ring.
charoendet, reported to the bureau to help with their inquiries into a Laos drugs ring.
Wearing a cream and brown pants suit, Patt wasted no time in tackling erroneous reports in the media that police had found 30 million baht circulating in her account, that a court had issued an arrest warrant against her, or that police intended to press charges.
“I came here to give evidence, though not as a suspect. They asked me to help with their inquires, but there was no warrant. I was not arrested, nor have they pressed charges. I don’t know where all these stories came from, but they have caused Benz and I damage,” she said, as she was flanked by marcotics division police.
“The money in my account is mine and earned legitimately; really, I shouldn’t even have to account for it. They have asked about transactions going back about two years. The balance has never reached 30 million baht; I don’t know where that report came from either,” she said.
“As far as Benz is concerned, don’t go getting your hopes up. We have been together only one year. I don’t know all of his financial affairs, and nor he mine.”
Police said later they questioned Patt, Benz’s mother, and two of Benz’s employees about financial transactions they spotted in Benz’s account as they attempted to trace the drug gang’s money trail.
Benz was charged on March 6 with laundering money and conspiracy to commit laundering in relation to his alleged links to the ring run by arrested Lao drug kingpin, Xaysana Keopimpha.
As well as probing the speed racer’s auto repairs and trade business, police also have seized a Lamborghini which they believe Benz bought with drugs money, and more recently his high-speed big bike.
They say 100 million baht has passed in and out of Benz’s bank account in the past two years, even though his auto repair business made little money. They have linked 10 people to the transactions, including Patt, Benz’s mother, and arrested suspect Natthaphol Nakkham, alias Boy, who earlier told police Benz was laundering assets on the gang’s behalf.
Earlier, Patt told the media the balance in her account was a “trifle”, and that after 15 years in the industry, as an actress, presenter and selling products on the internet, if anything it should be higher.
The reports of 30 million baht circulating in her account appear to have emerged from police themselves, though they later corrected it, saying the figure was 10 million baht and above. They said Benz’s mother was found with a balance in the hundreds of thousands, and two of his employees, account balances of a million baht or more.
A report in Thai Rath newspaper on March 11 quoted NSB commissioner Sommai Kongwisaisuk saying police were likely to lay charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit the offence against Patt, just as they had her husband. He also predicted police would take her to the Criminal Court in Ratchada as soon as questioning was over so she could seek bail.
In the end that didn’t happen. Speaking after Patt met police, deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Chatree Paisarnsilp said investigators would make further inquiries before making a decision on charges. -
2. Actress brushes off ladyboy comparison
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| PunPun |
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| Emil |
Ridwan “Emil” Kamil, mayor of Bandung in West Java province, responded to a social media post in which PunPun is holding up a handwritten sign saying she loves his town. It was reposted originally by an Indonesian tour guide in Bangkok.
“I got this greeting from a Thai celebrity. Hope she’s not a man,” he replied.
The post quickly earned Emil the ire of Indonesian internet critics, who urged him to be more politically correct.
Emil later took down the remark and apologised if his comments were capable of “multiple interpretations”.
Emil later took down the remark and apologised if his comments were capable of “multiple interpretations”.
The Thai media said Emil should have known better than to compare PunPun to a woman of the second gender, given the sensitivity of the issue in Indonesia.
In February last year a group of hard-line Islamists threatened an Islamic boarding school for transgender women, upsetting the image of a country generally known for its tolerance of the LGBT community. Emil urged Islamists to show more tolerance, earning praise for his broad-minded stance.
After getting wind of his remark about PunPun, however, which he wrote in a caption accompanying a repost of her picture, critics said he had let himself down.
PunPun, however, said she saw the joke for what it was, and was not upset to have her looks compared to those of a man.
“I saw it on a foreign website first, and it made no impact on me. He reposted my picture and thanked me,” she said.
“A small comment turned into a huge drama. Later I saw he changed the caption and apologised. But I was OK with it from the beginning.
“I didn’t feel a loss of sense of self to be likened to a kathoey. These days women of the second gender are beautiful, so I was not annoyed,’’ she said.
Punpun said she has a large Indonesian fan club, who look after her interests and were quick to attack Emil for his comments.
“I understand the media over there are interested because it is about women of the second gender, and a delicate issue. I am not serious about it, but don’t regard it as purely a laughing matter either, because if it was someone else who said it, it might look a bit strange,” she said. She had discussed the matter with her family, who agreed there was no point in getting upset. -
3. Ex-politican pays off employee’s debt
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| Wanchalerm |
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| Sugus |
The woman, Natchaporn “Sugas” Chansombun, left a clip on social media in which she appealed to Wanchalerm, son of veteran politician Chalerm Yubamrung and a former ministerial adviser to the Thai Rak Thai Party, to pay back the debt, which she had carried alone for two months.
“Why do I have to take on this debt on your behalf? Why do you have to pick on a woman with no way out? Are you not man enough to look after your own problem?” she asked in tears.
“I respect you and would like you to show me some sympathy, as I have no money left,” she said.
Mr Wanchalerm replied on Facebook he did not know the woman personally, and asked what she wanted from him, adding it was probably fame.
After the woman put up a second clip, Mr Wanchalerm’s side made contact, and the two reached an understanding. He transferred the 1.2 million baht to her account, settling the debt which media reports said was actually run up by one of Mr Wanchalerm’s underlings, who cited his name as part of the arrangement.
Sugas later posted to Facebook apologising to Mr Wanchalerm for the “misunderstanding”.
Mr Wanchalerm said he would take responsibility alone for what happened. “A tree doesn’t have to grow very large before birds will want to take advantage of its shade,” he added cryptically.
He had reprimanded his underling for citing his name improperly and running up the debt. While his reputation had suffered from the saga, he would not take action against Sugas.
The ex-politician’s stance won wide praise from fans on the internet, including Sugas herself.
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