DSI summons Phuket MP over alleged nominee property case on 31 August

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has summoned Phuket MP Somchat Techathaworncharoen of the People's Party to clarify allegations that he acted as a nominee holding land and property on behalf of foreign nationals in Phuket on 31 August 2026.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon Naowarat said the DSI would provide fairness to all parties. He said investigators had opened a case file and had been gathering evidence in the field for some time before the matter became public.

The evidence collected so far consists mainly of forensic material, documents, contracts and financial trails, while there are relatively few witnesses, the minister said.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon rejected suggestions that the summons amounted to political persecution because the People's Party is investigating alleged collusion in the Senate election. He said the issues should be separated, adding that the investigation formed part of government policy. Parliamentary immunity during a legislative session would be considered separately, he said.

The minister stressed that the summons did not mean the MP had committed an offence. The DSI will analyse the information again after hearing his explanation.