MP faces summons over forex probe

Thai opposition lawmaker Pawoot Pongvitayapanu is slated to be summoned by the House committee on police affairs to address allegations linking him to a 28 million baht financial transaction connected to an illegal foreign exchange trading network.

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The committee would determine next week when Mr. Pawoot should appear and whether the DSI and other state agencies should also be invited to provide information.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced Friday that it had uncovered these transactions involving brokers engaged in unauthorized forex trading. The agency is preparing to issue a summons for Mr. Pawoot as part of its ongoing investigation. Watcharapong Kuwijitsuwan, chair of the House committee and an MP from the Bhumjaithai Party, stated that the committee would decide next week when Mr. Pawoot should appear and whether other state agencies should be invited to provide information.

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He said it was unusual that suspects had not been identified while a person who had not yet been called in for questioning was singled out.

The case has quickly become a political focal point, with the opposition People's Party (PP) accusing the DSI of unfairly targeting one of its MPs. Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut questioned the DSI's decision to name Mr. Pawoot during a briefing, especially since he had not been formally charged or summoned at that time. He found it unusual that suspects remained unidentified while an individual not yet called for questioning was singled out.

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He suggested the disclosure could be viewed as an attempt to undermine Mr. Pawoot's credibility and distract attention from the committee investigation.

Mr. Natthaphong also raised concerns about the timing of the DSI's announcement, noting it coincided with parliamentary committees scrutinizing the TH-AI Passport project, an initiative in which Mr. Pawoot has been actively involved. He suggested the disclosure could be an attempt to discredit Mr. Pawoot and divert attention from the committee's investigation. Mr. Natthaphong asserted that the DSI briefing offered little new information and that Mr. Pawoot had already explained the transactions were related to legitimate gold trading and his payment gateway business. The PP is consulting its legal team regarding potential actions if evidence of improper conduct by state officials emerges. Mr. Natthaphong also urged the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate issues surrounding the TH-AI Passport project. Despite the allegations, Mr. Pawoot has expressed his readiness to cooperate fully with investigators and will not claim parliamentary immunity.

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Mr. Pawoot had already explained that the transactions were related to legitimate gold trading activities and his payment gateway business.