Drug squad set to grill actress ‘Patt’
ACTRESS Napapa “Patt” Tantrakul will meet police at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) in Bangkok later this week to provide information about her assets and various incomes, NSB deputy chief Pol Maj-General Chatri Paisalsilpa said yesterday.
A police source said they want to know the origin of Bt30 million in her bank account and if her sources of income were linked with any illegal activity, plus if she knew anything of her husband’s alleged money-laundering.
Her husband, motorbike racing star Akarakit “Benz Racing” Worarojcharoendet, has been charged with conspiracy and money laundering. He has been released on bail, which was granted on the |condition that he does not leave |the country without court permission.
Akarakit is accused of buying a Lamborghini sports car with drug money from a network led by alleged Laotian drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpa.
‘Not a suspect as of now’
Actress Patt, who recently gave birth to a baby boy, has been summonsed after NSB commissioner Pol Maj-General Sommai Kongwisaisuk said police would investigate transactions linked to Akarakit, starting with family members and close friends – and seize assets linked to him to establish their origin.
Chatri said a lawyer for the actress contacted police to say she would present herself to testify on the origin of assets on Thursday or Friday.
Given an initial summons demanding that she show up on Monday, police would issue a second notice to have her testify on these new dates, he said. If she failed to show up after the second summons, police might apply for a warrant for her arrest possibly for conspiracy to launder money, he added.
As of now, she was not a suspect and has not been charged with anything, he said.
The case against the actress’s husband stems from the “Chaiya Sayop Pairee 60/2” operation to search 40 locations around the country including Akarakit’s Area 51 big bike accessories shop in Inthamara, in an effort to smash a network allegedly led by Xaysana. It follows Xaysana’s arrest at Suvarnabhumi Airport on January 19.
Akarakit has met police to try to explain the origin of his assets, including the Bt20-million Lamborghini. He has said he borrowed Bt6 million from Natthapol Nakkham, an arrested suspect in Xaysana’s alleged network, for the down payment on the car.