By Thai Newsroom Reporters
ALL ELECTION commissioners might probably be found guilty of duty negligence charges and sentenced to prison over alleged rigging, bloc-voting plots in last year’s senatorial elections, according to a former senator.
Mr. Seri Suwanpanon posted on his Facebook page today (Feb.22) to caution all the seven commissioners of the polling agency that they might probably be held accountable for the electoral frauds involving most of a total 200 senators and thus be sentenced to jail by court if they eventually failed to address the scandals.
The former senator was responding to the remarkable event in which the Department of Special Investigation has recently informed the Election Commission of the former’s decision to investigate the electoral rigging, bloc-voting scandals in regard to illegal conspiracy and money-laundering charges involving a substantial number of winning contestants whom the latter had earlier declared senators.
Seri said the election commissioners could possibly be held guilty of duty negligence if they did nothing about that whilst those senators could possibly be brought to justice.
If finally found guilty by the DSI of involvement in the alleged electoral frauds, those senior lawmakers could possibly be suspended from duty at the order of court, pending a court ruling which could possibly lead to an end to their senatorial status, thus rendering re-elections to find others in their place.
As many as 138 out of the total 200 senators have been accused of involvement in the rigging, bloc-voting shenanigans allegedly orchestrated by unnamed elements personally connected with the Bhumjaithai, the second largest coalition partner under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob.
Election Commissioner Itthiporn Boonprakhong confirmed today (Feb.22) that he has been formally informed of the DSI note delivered to the polling agency of its planned investigation into the conspiracy and money-laundering charges involving the electoral rigging, bloc-voting scandals whilst his colleagues had yet to convene and decide as to whether or not they may do anything about that.
The DSI is a government agency under direct control of Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong who is known to be a quietly staunch supporter of de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, father of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Election Commission members led by Secretary-General Sawang Boonmee giving a press conference. Photo: Thai Rath
Insert: Former senator Seri Suwanpanon. Photo: Thai Rath
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