MP Claims Eyesight Excuse for Signing False Candidate Data
A Pheu Thai MP questions an Election Commission ruling that allowed a Buriram candidate to keep his seat despite claiming false experience as a "senior footballer"—the candidate blamed staff for adding the word and claimed he didn't wear hi
On July 30, 2025, Parit Wacharasindhu, a Pheu Thai list MP and party deputy leader, posted on Facebook analyzing an Election Commission ruling on the qualifications of two Amnat Charoen MPs—Daeng Gongma and Sompan Plasak—whose cases were raised by legal watchdog iLaw and flagged by former commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn as a potential dereliction of duty by the commission.
Parit then drew attention to a similar case: Election Commission Decision 251/2567 regarding Pranit Gamram, a Buriram MP from Group 16. The complaint arose because Pranit listed himself as a senior footballer (2527–2547) in his candidacy application and candidate information form.
Parit noted a mathematical impossibility: if Pranit was 61 years old when he registered in 2567, he would have been 21–41 years old during 2527–2547. However, Thailand's sports authority defines "senior athlete" as a competitor aged 35 and older. This means Pranit could not have been a senior athlete throughout the stated period; his senior athlete experience would span at most six years (ages 35–41, or 2541–2547), falling short of the required 10 years of experience in his field.
When questioned, Pranit claimed he told officials he was a footballer from 2527 onwards, having competed since age 16 at the subdistrict level before being selected in 2527 for an army regiment football team, and continuing to compete through 2547. The ruling cited testimony from fellow competitors, though its credibility remains debatable.
Parit flagged a more suspicious element: Pranit claimed he did not write the application himself but instead spoke to staff, who wrote it for him. He said he only told them he was a footballer from 2527–2547, and the staff added the word "senior" on their own. However, when signing the candidate information form—which contained the phrase "senior footballer 2527–2547"—Pranit claimed he had not brought his glasses, so he signed without noticing the inaccuracy.
Parit found this explanation questionable. Although a staff member testified that they added "senior" based on conversation with the candidate, Parit doubted staff would insert information without the applicant's intent. Moreover, even if staff had added the term independently, an official document still requires the applicant's verification before signature.
