Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Rangsiman Rome has cried foul after having an arrest warrant issued against him, in a move he linked to human trafficking allegations he made during last month's general debate.
Mr Rangsiman, also the MFP deputy secretary-general, said he has been served with a court-approved arrest warrant sought by Bang Khunnon police.
The MP is accused of defamation over allegations he allegedly made in relation to the trafficking of Rohingya migrants, during the general debate in parliament on Feb 18.
He raised the controversy surrounding Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, formerly the country's lead investigator into human trafficking.
Pol Maj Gen Paween investigated a Rohingya trafficking network in the South which led to the prosecution of several government officials and military officers. Among them was Lt Gen Manas Kongpan, a high-ranking military adviser to the government.
During the debate, Mr Rangsiman claimed that Pol Maj Gen Paween was put under pressure from the police and military after the investigation began.
Pol Maj Gen Paween quit the police force and fled to Australia six years ago out of fear for his life, after his probe implicated "influential" people.
Yesterday, Mr Rangsiman claimed attempts were made to hasten the police investigation into the defamation case and have him detained without bail, even for just one day, which would have presented grounds for ultimately disqualifying him as an MP.
He said he had been summonsed twice, on Feb 23 and March 11, by investigators and that he had requested a postponement which was rejected.
Mr Rangsiman added an arrest warrant may only be issued in the event a charge carries a jail term of three years or more, which he said his doesn't, or if a suspect poses a flight risk. He said he had no intention of fleeing.