Bangkok: 'Big Kriang' made an appearance at the Ministry of Interior following the National Economic and Social Development Board's (NESDB) acceptance of a collusion case involving the Senate. He denied any intentions of setting up a war room, asserting that his visit was merely to have lunch with Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. He expressed no surprise that the meeting dismissed the charge of being part of a criminal gang and emphasized that the investigation into the ethics of the Minister of Justice and the Director-General of the DSI should continue as per protocol. He humorously noted that he does not always answer calls due to concerns over potential scam callers.
According to Thai News Agency, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had concluded an interview at the Ministry of the Interior when he mentioned that General Kriangkrai Srirak, the First Vice President of the Senate, had visited and encouraged the media to interview him. General Kriangkrai then addressed the media regarding the Special Case Committee's (SCCC) decision to treat the Senate election collusion on the basis of money laundering as a special case. He admitted to not being fully informed due to prior commitments with the army and a scheduled visit to Lopburi Province. Consequently, he refrained from commenting on details he was not yet privy to.
When asked about his relief over the SCCC's decision not to classify the gang-related charge as a special case, General Kriangkrai reiterated that all proceedings must adhere to legal processes. He noted that every senator has access to legal advisors and that the Senate also has a legal office to address these issues.
Regarding the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's (NBTC) decision not to consider the secret society charge as a special case, General Kriangkrai stated that it was not unexpected and that acceptance or rejection of such charges is part of the process. He confirmed that the submission to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) concerning the ethics investigation of key officials would proceed without withdrawal, even if members are called in for questioning.
General Kriangkrai firmly denied using his visit to the Ministry of Interior as an opportunity to set up a war room to monitor the NESDB meeting outcomes. He explained that his stop was routine and coincidental due to his travel plans to Lopburi.
In response to questions about his frequency of visiting the Ministry for lunch, General Kriangkrai mentioned that his visits are sporadic and dependent on his availability. He humorously recalled his interactions with the media, noting his reluctance to answer unknown calls due to fears of potential scams.
The media playfully engaged with General Kriangkrai, to which he responded with light-hearted banter, explaining his preference for vegetarian meals due to the Buddhist holy day. He concluded by expressing his caution with phone calls, emphasizing that he remains vigilant against potential scams.