Thai police ask to summon lawmaker over alleged rape of foreign tourist

By AFP February 7, 2025 | 07:14 pm PT

A row of Thai policemen stand guard in front of Bang Khen police station in Bangkok. Photo by AFP

Thai police have requested parliament's permission to summon a lawmaker for questioning after allegations he raped a tourist, officers told AFP on Friday.

Police in the northern city of Chiang Mai submitted the formal request as part of an investigation into Bangkok MP Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit, 35.

A Taiwanese tourist told the police last month that Chaiyamparwaan raped her at a Chiang Mai hotel during the early hours of Jan. 9, according to a police statement obtained by Thai broadcaster Bright TV.

"We have followed the procedures (to summon him)," Chiang Mai police chief Yutthana Kanchana told AFP.

Because Chaiyamparwaan is a serving lawmaker, police must ask parliament's permission to summon him for questioning.

Police have written to parliament warning that delays in the case "could impact confidence in the Thai justice system and affect international relations", according to the broadcast statement.

Chaiyarparwaan, an MP for a constituency in the capital, was expelled from the main opposition Move Forward Party last year over allegations of sexual misconduct.

He is now a member of the newly founded Thai Progress Party.

Local media reported that parliament is set to discuss whether to hand Chaiyarparwaan over to police.