‘Benz Racing’ charged with money laundering, conspiracy

Akarakit – the husband of actress Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul, who recently gave birth to their baby boy – has been charged with conspiracy and money laundering. 
He is accused of buying a Lamborghini Gallardo SuperLeggera sports car with drug money from a network led by alleged Laotian drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpa.
Akarakit reportedly refrained from testifying any further to police yesterday, saying he would only testify in court. 
His lawyer Sitthichok Trinet said his client had testified to police and covered all 60 relevant points in two previous meetings. 
Sitthichok also said a police bid for a warrant to arrest his client on Friday was dismissed because Akarakit had a valid residence and had been cooperative in the case. 
NSB commissioner Pol Maj-General Sommai Kongwisaisuk said police would probe transactions linked to Akarakit, starting with family members and close friends, and would seize money and assets linked to him to probe their origin. Those facing such a probe would not be considered suspects at this stage, he said.
Investigators later brought Akarakit to court to apply for an initial 12-day detention period pending a further probe. They opposed bail. 
Akarakit’s lawyer posted Bt500,000 cash as a deposit for the bail application. At 3pm, the criminal court granted him bail on the condition he not leave the country unless given permission from a court to do so.
A money laundering offence is punishable by up to 10 years in jail or a fine of up to Bt200,000 or both.
The case stems from the “Chaiya Sayop Pairee 60/2” operation to search 40 locations nationwide including Akarakit’s Area 51 big bike accessories shop in Inthamara, in a bid to destroy the network led by alleged drug kingpin Xaysana. It follows Xaysana’s arrest at Suvarnabhumi Airport on January 19.
Akarakit – who was accused of money laundering for the network – met police to explain the origin of his assets including the Bt20 million Lamborghini. He had claimed he borrowed Bt6 million from Natthapol Nakkham, an arrested suspect in Xaysana’s alleged network, for the down-payment on the car.