Legal Scholar Warns Election Commission of Criminal Liability
Legal scholar Prinya Thaewanarumitkul warned Thailand's Election Commission that commissioners could face criminal prosecution under Section 69 if they mishandle fraud allegations in the Senate selection process.
Legal scholar Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a faculty member at Thammasat University's law school, warned on September 14 that the Election Commission could face prosecution under Section 69 if it acts improperly in handling Senate selection fraud allegations. In a Facebook post, Thaewanarumitkul stated that if there is credible evidence that the Senate selection was not conducted fairly or impartially, and the commission fails to refer the case to the Supreme Court, the commissioners themselves could be prosecuted under Section 69. The scholar emphasized the seriousness of the matter, particularly for four commissioners who themselves came from the contested Senate group and were accused of obtaining their seats through collusion, as they face heightened risk of prosecution if they dismiss legitimate complaints. Thaewanarumitkul urged all commissioners to perform their duties properly according to the facts and evidence, noting that adherence to proper procedure would protect them from legal consequences, whereas improper conduct could expose them to prosecution when evidence emerges.
