Politician Urges Election Commission to Prosecute 229 in Senate Case
A politician urged the Election Commission to prosecute all 229 people accused in a Senate vote-buying scheme, arguing the evidence is substantial and some commissioners have conflicts of interest that warrant court referral.
At a September 13 rally at Bangkok's Arts and Culture Center, Pricha Wilaiphan addressed a crowd demanding that the Election Commission prosecute all 229 accused in the Senate vote-buying scheme ahead of the commission's September 14 vote. Pricha argued that if the commission acts impartially without political interference, it must refer all suspects to court, allowing judges to weigh the evidence and reach a verdict.
He cited two main reasons for his position. First, he contended that the evidence—including purchase receipts, voting records, appointment logs, financial transactions, audio recordings, and phone histories—is far more substantial than in previous cases the commission has prosecuted. Second, he noted that at least four of the seven election commissioners have conflicting interests because they were appointed by the same Senate slate that nominated the accused, creating a perception that only a court referral can clear them of bias.
When asked what would happen if the commission drops the case, Pricha said the matter would not end there but urged citizens to focus on pressuring the commission to act fairly in the next 20 hours. He warned that allowing the vote-buying scheme to go unpunished would create a dangerous precedent in which one political group faces no accountability, undermining Thailand's democratic institutions.
