A Democrat Party deputy leader said the party has received complaints alleging that Chinese "grey capital" networks are laundering money through nominee firms, illegal venues and nightlife businesses in Bangkok.
Chaichana Detdacho on Friday said the party had received reports through its volunteer lawyers' clinic alleging that many businesses, including restaurants, entertainment venues, supermarkets and mala restaurants in areas such as Ratchadaphisek, Meng Jai, RCA and Sutthisan, were being used to launder money for Chinese scam operators.
He alleged that many of the venues contain extravagant rooms used by Chinese customers to host drug parties. Thai nationals were allegedly hired to hold shares despite having declared incomes inconsistent with investments ranging from 30 million to 100 million baht.
Mr Chaichana referred to a Thai man identified only by the initial "R" as a key figure responsible for arranging mule accounts and money laundering operations.
The man was previously arrested in Sa Kaeo in 2020 on an immigration-related charge and now reportedly lives in Nonthaburi.
He said assets had allegedly been transferred to R's parents and close associates, including a luxury house worth almost 20 million baht in Bang Len district.
Meanwhile, the MP also claimed that some Cambodian migrant workers were not deported after their work permits expired.
This was allegedly linked to irregularities at the Labour and Public Health ministries, he said, alleging that some recruitment agencies and healthcare facilities profited from the practice, particularly unlicensed clinics issuing health reports for migrant workers.
The issuance of permits to substandard facilities was allegedly linked to a former executive at the Department of Employment who was said to have worked with labour recruitment companies and medical facilities.
Mr Chaichana also said the party was preparing information for submission to the House Committee on Public Health concerning cases in which beauty clinics were allegedly using substandard medications without approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
"Investigations revealed that some clinics are using medications intended for external application by injecting them into patients' bodies. This is illegal and extremely dangerous.
"The party will expedite the forwarding of this information to the House Committee on Public Health for investigation and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law," he said.
