Surat Thani MP Charged in Online Gambling Network Case
Surat Thani MP Chonnapathat Nakasam was charged with operating an illegal online gambling website and involvement in transnational organized crime, with prosecutors finding evidence linking him to a billion-baht gambling network in Southern
The Department of Special Investigation filed charges against Chonnapathat Nakasam, a Surat Thani MP from the Palang Pracharath Party, in connection with an illegal online gambling operation. DSI investigators presented the case summary to the Special Cases Prosecution Office on August 24, 2025, at the Supreme Prosecutor's Office on Ratchadaphisek Road.
The Supreme Prosecutor found that some offenses may have occurred outside Thai territory, prompting the addition of two charges under Criminal Procedure Code Section 20. The first charge is operating an illegal gambling website under Criminal Code Section 209, which carries a sentence of up to 7 years imprisonment and a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht. The second is involvement in a transnational organized crime group under the Organized Transnational Crime Prevention and Suppression Act of 2013, carrying 4–15 years imprisonment and fines of 80,000–300,000 baht, or both.
Nakasam arrived with his legal counsel and stated he was submitting a justice petition on nine grounds. He emphasized that one key concern is asking investigators to clarify the nature of his alleged involvement in the transnational crime charges. He said he had previously raised fairness concerns during DSI's investigation but received no clarity.
"I don't want to point fingers at any agency, but I hope that in my justice petition, the organization that holds my trust will ensure fairness," he said.
Regarding parliamentary immunity, Nakasam clarified that charges filed carry no immunity protection. Immunity applies only during investigation and when a summons is issued. He denied having any special privileges.
Nakasam said he faces concurrent proceedings at both prosecution and court levels but does not view this as political. Instead, he compared it to a storm breaking loose—as a fighter, he must slowly unravel each problem and see this as an opportunity to clear his name of public suspicion that he abused parliamentary immunity, which he said he never has. "I am simply a citizen subject to the same law as everyone else," he added.
After surrendering, Nakasam filed the justice petition with the Special Cases Prosecutor's Office. The case was distributed to four special prosecutors, and a hearing is scheduled for September 28.
The case stems from an earlier arrest of a major online gambling network in Southern Thailand with over one billion baht in circulation. Investigators found financial links to Nakasam. The DSI launched "Operation Gameflow" on March 5, 2025, conducting raids at ten locations across four provinces.
