A former Democrat Party spokesman has been arrested in Bangkok for allegedly passing dud cheques worth about 100 million baht in 2023.
Officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) took Chavanond Intarakomalyasut into custody at a condominium in Phra Khanong Nua area on Monday.
Mr Chavanond is a former Democrat spokesman and former secretary to a foreign minister.
Pol Lt Col Pathompong Thongchamroon, deputy chief of NEC sub-division 5, led the arresting team.
Mr Chavanond was named in an arrest warrant issued by the North Phra Khanong Criminal Court on April 20, 2025 on charges of issuing cheques to settle legally enforceable debts with the intention of dishonouring payment, a violation of the Cheque Act.
During the arrest, he allegedly asked officers to verify whether the warrant had since been withdrawn. He said several previous warrants against him had been revoked following negotiations and settlements with complainants.
Police assured him this particular warrant remained active.
Police said checks showed that he was still wanted under two arrest warrants. Several other cases filed by complainants were also pending court approval for arrest warrants. Total damages were estimated at more than 100 million baht.
Mr Chavanond was later handed over to investigators at Khlong Tan police station for legal proceedings.
During questioning, Mr Chavanond allegedly confessed to all charges.
According to police, several victims first filed complaints against Mr Chavanond in 2023, alleging damages totalling several million baht. The parties later entered mediation agreements under which complainants withdrew lawsuits in exchange for cheques issued to repay the debts.
He later entered mediation agreements with those complainants, issuing cheques as repayment.
However, the cheques could not be cashed, prompting the complainants to file new complaints.
Police said Mr Chavanond later fled and could not be contacted, leading the court to issue the warrant under which he was arrested on Monday.
