Election Commission Refers 77 People, Including 26 Senators, to Court
The Election Commission has referred 77 people, including 26 sitting senators, to the Supreme Court over alleged election violations linked to the 2024 Senate election, while clearing all MPs and political party executives of wrongdoing.
BANGKOK — The Election Commission (EC) has voted to send 77 people, including 26 sitting senators, to the Supreme Court over alleged collusion and other offences linked to the 2024 Senate election.
The EC began deliberating the case at 10:00 on Monday, with all seven commissioners attending the meeting. Around 200 police officers from Metropolitan Police Division 2 and three local stations were deployed around the EC headquarters to maintain security.
The public and unregistered observers were barred from the second floor of the EC office, where the results were announced at 15:00. Registered media were allowed to attend, while members of the public could watch the announcement via screens outside the office or the EC's YouTube channel.
The case was initially reported as involving 229 respondents. However, acting EC deputy secretary-general Phasakorn Siriphakyaporn said the investigation actually covered 427 respondents, with seven separate allegations.
The case file contains 75,722 pages, and the EC considered it during 11 meetings.
Of 610 complaints concerning the Senate election, the EC has ruled on 593, leaving 17 unresolved. It also voted to pursue criminal cases against 1,076 candidates accused of lacking qualifications or having prohibited characteristics.
For the first allegation, involving political party executives, MPs or political officeholders allegedly helping Senate candidates under Section 76(1), the EC voted not to send any of the 21 respondents to the Supreme Court.
For the second allegation, involving candidates allegedly allowing politicians to help them secure Senate seats under Section 76(2), the EC likewise voted not to prosecute any of the 140 respondents.
The third allegation, concerning candidates' self-introduction allegedly violating EC rules under Section 36(1) in conjunction with Section 70, produced the first prosecutions. Of 175 respondents, the EC voted to send 26 sitting senators, one person eligible to vote in the Senate selection process and 15 other individuals to the Supreme Court. The EC said no political party executive would be prosecuted under this allegation.
For allegations four to seven, involving allegedly providing property or benefits, accepting offers of entertainment, soliciting benefits and soliciting benefits for oneself, the EC voted to prosecute 26 sitting senators, 36 people eligible to vote in the Senate selection process and 15 other individuals, totaling 77 people.
The decision means MPs and political party executives have escaped prosecution in the case, while 26 sitting senators are among those facing proceedings before the Supreme Court.
The EC stressed that opinions from an earlier panel were not binding on the commission. Different levels of consideration could reach different conclusions, with previous findings serving only as information for the commissioners' deliberations.
