Rangsiman says People’s Party will not shield Phuket MP over allegations

People’s Party deputy leader Rangsiman Rome said on 20 August 2026 that the party would not shield Phuket MP Somchat Techthawornjaroen from allegations involving nominee shareholdings and possible asset-declaration concealment.

Rangsiman said the allegations involved two separate issues. The nominee-shareholding question had been referred to the Department of Business Development through the House Committee on Political Development, Mass Communication and Public Participation. He said the department had not yet confirmed the allegation, as far as he knew.

The asset-declaration issue falls under the authority of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Rangsiman said. Members of Parliament submit their declarations directly to the NACC rather than to their political party, and the commission can examine declared assets retrospectively.

The allegations stem from a complaint activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana filed on 9 August at the government complaints centre opposite Government House. Ruangkrai asked authorities to examine whether Somchat’s shares in the companies were fully paid, where the money came from and whether the companies operated lawfully.

Department of Business Development records dated 18 August 2025 list Somchat as a director or shareholder in 28 companies, either directly or through his firm, Avocats Lawyers Co., Ltd. Somchat has said he is not involved in the matter concerning the 28 companies.

People’s Party list MP Krunaphon Thiansuwan said on 19 August that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) had not summoned Somchat and saw no irregularity in the case. Krunaphon also accused unnamed parties of leaking Somchat’s name as though he had already been found guilty.

Rangsiman said the party supported a serious investigation and that he would support legal action against Somchat if the nominee-shareholding allegation were confirmed. He said the party’s policy was not to shield wrongdoers, while noting that its powers were more limited than those of legal and judicial authorities.

Somchat was first elected in Phuket Constituency 1 in 2023 under the Move Forward Party and was re-elected in the constituency in 2026 under the People’s Party.