Upakit Pachariyangkun
อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร
Senator of Thailand
Assumed office
14 May 2019
Personal details
Born28 October 1961 (1961-10-28) (age 62)
SpousePareena Kraikupt (div.)
RelationsDean Young Gultala
ChildrenFour, including Adisara Gultula
ParentUpadit Pachariyangkun
Alma materSkidmore College
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
OccupationBusinessman

Upakit Pachariyangkun (Thai: อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร; also spelt Uppakit Pachareeyangkun; born 28 October 1961) is a Thai businessman and senator, known for serving as chairman of United Power of Asia and Allure Group.[1] He was appointed by Thailand's military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order, as a Senator of Thailand on May 24, 2019.[2][3] In 2019, Upakit declared assets worth US$52 million, making him Thailand's wealthiest senator.[4]

Early life and education

Upakit was born on October 28, 1961, to Upadit Pachariyangkun, a Thai diplomat and former foreign affairs minister, and his wife Aphira.[5] Upakit attended Skidmore College in New York, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in political science.[3] He subsequently obtained a Master's degree in Industrial Development from Vrije Universiteit Brussel.[3] He then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[3]

Business interests

Business interests in Myanmar

Upakit founded Allure Group in Thailand. Upakit expanded his business interests to neighbouring Myanmar through a partnership with Tun Min Latt, a Burmese businessman.[5] In 1999, the two men co-founded Myanmar Allure Group to operate Allure Resort, an illegal hotel and casino, in the Burmese-Thai border town of Tachileik.[5][2] Six percent of the casino's income was distributed to the Myanmar Armed Forces.[6] In August 2019, he divested from Myanmar Allure, reportedly selling casino resort for $8.15 million to a business partner, Chakris Kajkumjorndej, in order to join the Senate of Thailand.[7] Dean Young Gultula, Upakit's son-in-law, was named his successor.[5]

Criminal scrutiny

On September 17, 2022, following a police raid, Thai authorities arrested Tun Min Latt, Dean Young Gultula, and two Thai nationals on money laundering and drug trafficking charges.[8][9] Authorities seized $40.7 million worth in assets, including luxury cars, watches and bags, along with $239,091 in cash.[10][8] On 3 October, Thai news outlets reported that the Criminal Court of Thailand had issued an arrest warrant for Upakit in connection with the raid.[2] Within hours, Upakit's arrest warrant was abruptly overturned, and court summons were instead issued, after interference by leadership at the Criminal Court.[11][12][2] Following the arrests, Metropolitan Police Bureau officers who had sought Upakit's arrest warrant were mysteriously transferred to remote provincial posts.[13][11] Kritsanat Thanasupanat, the lead investigator, was involuntarily transferred to a remote post in Chaiyaphum province.[13][11]

On February 15, 2023, during a parliamentary debate, Rangsiman Rome implicated Upakit in a money laundering and drug trafficking case involving Upakit's son-in-law and Tun Min Latt.[14][12] At a press conference thereafter, Rangsit accused Upakit of falsely declaring his assets before assuming his senate seat in 2019.[12] Upakit owns the plot of land in Bangkok which houses the headquarters of the United Thai Nation Party.[15][16]

On March 11, the Thai Judicial Commission's testimony from Manapong Wongpiwat, a police investigator, regarding Upakit's revoked arrest warrant was leaked to the media.[17] The leaked testimony prompted concerns regarding internal interference by Criminal Court leadership in stopping Upakit's arrest warrant, and the state of judicial independence in Thailand.[17] On March 13, Damrongsak Kittiprapas, head of the Royal Thai Police, ordered a probe into irregularities surrounding the sudden revocation of Upakit's arrest warrant back in October.[11] The following day, Chotiwat Luengprasert, the president of the Supreme Court of Thailand, launched a fact-finding committee to conduct a formal investigation.[18] On May 18, he was indicted on money laundering and transnational related charges by public prosecutors.[19]

Personal life

Upakit's father, Upadit Pachariyangkun, is a former diplomat and Thai foreign affairs minister.[3] He has one sister, Thawadee.[3] Upakit was previously married to Pareena Kraikupt, a politician.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Praiwan, Yuthana (2016-04-04). "UPA signs B10bn Dawei power plant deal". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ferrie, Jarred; Sutthichaya, Yiamyut (2022-10-13). "Arrest Warrant for Thai Senator Issued and Quickly Retracted". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร ส.ว. ไทย ผู้กว้างขวางในเมียนมา". BBC News ไทย (in Thai). Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  4. ↑ "ชีวิต 'ส.ว.อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร' อดีตคน กต.-พ่อของลูกปารีณา-ถูกโยงพ่อค้าอาวุธ". มติชนออนไลน์ (in Thai). 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Report Reveals Thai Senator's Deep Ties to Detained Myanmar Arms Dealer, Profiting Military". The Irrawaddy. 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. ↑ "Thai senator's deep involvement with Myanmar junta crony exposed". Myanmar NOW. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  7. ↑ "Star Sapphire companies funnelling arms and money to military". Justice For Myanmar. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  8. 1 2 Wongcha-um, Panu; Mcpherson, Poppy (2022-09-21). "Thailand arrests Myanmar military-linked businessman suspected of drug trafficking". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  9. ↑ "Myanmar arms broker arrested in Thailand". Myanmar NOW. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  10. ↑ Abuza, Zachary (2023-03-30). "Thai senator's ties to arrested Myanmar tycoon stir controversy ahead of election". Benar News. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Probe into revoked drug arrest warrant for senator". Bangkok Post. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  12. 1 2 3 Boonlert, Thana (2023-02-21). "MP casts doubts over Upakit's assets". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  13. 1 2 "Transfer suspicions". Bangkok Post. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  14. ↑ "Thai senator's deep involvement with Myanmar junta crony exposed". Myanmar NOW. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  15. ↑ "Senator sues MP for defamation over censure debate speech". Prachatai English. 2023-02-19. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  16. ↑ "Prayut Is Planning an Election After the General Debate". Khaosod English. 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  17. 1 2 "Leaked letter alleges Court top brass had Thai senator's arrest warrant revoked". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  18. ↑ "Panel to investigate U-turn on arrest warrant". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  19. ↑ "Senator Upakit indicted for alleged money laundering and links to transnational crime". The Nation Thailand. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  20. ↑ "The life and fights of government's fiercest "guardian"". Thai PBS World. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
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