Thai People’s Party leader draws red line after MP candidate’s arrest over online gambling

People’s Party chief Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has promised “zero tolerance” for grey-area crime after candidate Ratchapong Soisuwan was arrested on charges of running an illegal online gambling and money-laundering network ahead of Thailand’s February general election.

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of Thailand’s opposition People’s Party (PPLE), called an urgent press conference on Thursday, 15 January 2026, after cybercrime officers arrested party candidate Ratchapong “Pond” Soisuwan for alleged links to an online gambling operation.

Ratchapong, a former MP now standing again for Tak Province’s Constituency 2, was detained on Wednesday, 14 January, at his home in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). Investigators accuse him of involvement in an illegal betting platform linked to the site nakarin789.com and of benefiting from gambling proceeds that were laundered through a chain of bank accounts.

According to Natthaphong, the party was informed of the arrest late on Wednesday night by Ratchapong’s lawyer. At the press conference he stressed that PPLE has a strict “zero-tolerance” policy toward so-called grey-area activities, explicitly listing corruption, drug trafficking, human trafficking, grey capital, fraud and online gambling, and vowed the party would not shield any member facing such allegations.

Thai media report that the Criminal Court has since denied bail to Ratchapong, citing the seriousness of the money-laundering and gambling charges and the risk that he could flee or interfere with evidence. The People’s Party has already moved to suspend him and withdraw political support while the case proceeds.

The arrest comes less than a month before the 8 February general election, where PPLE is one of the main challengers to Thailand’s ruling coalition. For the gambling sector, the case underscores how aggressively Thai cybercrime units are now pursuing politicians and public figures accused of running or profiting from illegal online betting networks.