The Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Aphidit Intulaksana, the CEO of a company and relative of a late former foreign minister, after he failed to appear in court on Wednesday to hear the ruling in a case where he is accused of raping and molesting an actress.
Aphidit, 36, was expected to attend the court session to hear the verdict related to allegations that he raped and molested a 21-year-old actress on August 9-10, 2022. Aphidit serves as the CEO and chairman of Aphi Enterprise, a company involved in various businesses, including entertainment, and is a relative of Upadit Pachariyangkun, who served as Thailand’s foreign minister from 1976 to 1980.
His absence led the judge to order the confiscation of his 1-million-baht surety, reschedule the ruling to September 20, and issue an arrest warrant.
The actress, despite being unwell, made an effort to attend the court session on Wednesday. She expressed her frustration, noting that while she was present, the accused did not show up.
“The arrest warrant issued should help expedite everything. I hope this ordeal comes to an end soon,” she stated after her court appearance.
The actress also mentioned that Aphidit’s lawyer had contacted her several times seeking discussions, which she declined. She urged him to stop evading justice and cooperate with the court, saying, “Stop running away, cooperate with the court proceedings, and admit your crime so this case will end.”
