Political Dispute Over 40 Million Baht Bribery Allegations in Parliament

On September 17, 2026, Rangsiman Rome, a list MP from the People's Party and Chairman of the House Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights, addressed the media following a parliamentary session. The session involved testimony from Chaiychanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, and Worasit Liangprasert, Deputy Minister of Interior, concerning allegations of a 40 million baht bribe.

Rome expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided, noting that the Minister appeared unable to recall specific details regarding legal actions against those involved in the bribery attempt. Rome criticized the current trend of officials retracting or changing their testimonies. Furthermore, he directed sharp criticism toward Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, accusing him of failing to take decisive action against illegal 'grey' capital and gambling operations, suggesting that the government’s efforts in this area have been ineffective.

For residents and visitors, this dispute highlights ongoing parliamentary scrutiny regarding corruption and the proliferation of illegal online gambling platforms in Thailand. While the committee is investigating the matter, the specific identities of those behind the bribery attempt and the effectiveness of the government's crackdown on the estimated 4,000 illegal gambling websites remain subjects of ongoing political debate and investigation. No definitive legal outcomes have been reached at this stage.