'Patt' postpones explanation of her income

'Patt' postpones explanation of her income

Actress Napapa
Actress Napapa "Patt" Tantrakul reports to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok for questioning on March 17. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)

Actress Napapa "Patt" Tantrakul, whose husband is accused of laundering drugs cartel money, has delayed giving police documents proving the source of her bank funds, putting it off from Tuesday to early April.

Pol Maj Gen Chatree Paisarnsilp, deputy commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, said on Monday that police had written to Ms Napapa on March 20 asking her to provide proof of the source of her funds by March 28. At her lawyer's request, the deadline had been put back to early April.

The postponement was allowed because she had yet to gather all the required documents, he said.

On Monday the Narcotics Suppression Bureau tried to summons the organiser of an event whom Ms Napapa on March 17 identified as paying her more than 1 million baht for recent work.

The organiser had not responded. Police would issue the second summons and if it also was not answered and arrest warrant would be sought, Pol Maj Gen Chatree said.

On March 17, 30-year-old Ms Napapa reported to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok for questioning about 10 million baht that moved through her accounts.

Her husband Akarakit "Benz Racing" Worarojcharoendet, 30, was charged last month with money laundering and conspiracy to launder money. It followed the arrest of Lao drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpha and the subsequent investigation into his network.

Ms Napapa, who has not been charged with any offence, insisted she earned all the money in her accounts through her own work.

Investigators said then they would ascertain if there was any connection with the money-laundering case against Mr Akarakit.

She earlier said she did not know everything about the life of her husband, as their relationship was only one year old.

Mr Akarakit was charged after police suspicions were aroused by about 100 million baht linked to many groups of people.

Ms Napapa married Mr Akarakit last November, and gave birth to a child in mid-February.

Police established an alleged link between Mr Akarakit's financial transactions and those of the illicit drug network. Mr Akarakit was released on bail of 500,000 baht.

Police investigators accuse Mr Akarakit of colluding to launder money with Natthaphol "Boy" Nakkham, who was arrested on Feb 1 in connection with the Xaysana drug network.

Mr Natthaphol had allegedly supplied Mr Akarakit with money earned from drug trafficking, and he had used it to buy properties and run businesses.

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