‘Benz Racing’ case to go to prosecutors this week
The Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) will submit the drug money-laundering case against motorbike star Akarakit “Benz Racing” Worarojcharoendet on Monday or Tuesday to public prosecutors, NSB chief Pol Lt-General Sommai Kongwisaisuk said on Sunday.
He also indicated that police had found that other wealthy Thai celebrities had been involved in drugs and were compiling evidence.
Akarakit was initially charged with laundering money on behalf of the alleged Lao drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpa and then further charged with two additional counts under Section 6 of the Measures for Suppression of Narcotic Offenders Act.
The added charges relate to the aiding or abetting of wrongdoers committing a crime and taking assets or other benefits to accommodate wrongdoing or help prevent a wrongdoer from getting caught.
Saying that investigators were confident in their evidence against Akarakit, Sommai added that police would send the case to prosecutors in time to indict him before the seventh and last court-ordered detention period expires next Monday. Akarakit has been out on bail since the initial detention period.
The NSB had also asked the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) for permission to file additional charges against Akarakit’s wife, actress Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul, under the Measures for Suppression of Narcotic Offenders Act but the ONCB had not yet replied, Sommai said. Napapa last week was charged with conspiracy to launder money in relation to funds that Akarakit had transferred to her.