By Thai Newsroom Reporters
A FEW AMONG the suspects recently named by the Election Commission for alleged involvement in 2024’s senatorial rigging scandals and bound to be prosecuted in the Supreme Court have been found to be well-known politicians attached to the Bhumjaithai, core of the current coalition government surreptitiously pulled around by de facto party boss Newin Chidchob.
Among the total 77 suspects including 26 current senators initially charged by the polling agency for having perpetrated irregularities or been involved in electoral riggings over the complicated, triple-tiered senatorial races are the sole Bhumjaithai MP namely Somjate Limpabandhu, former Bhumjaithai-attached deputy House speaker Supachai Bhosu and Bhumjaithai-associated Nakhon Sri Thammarat provincial administration head Warin Shinawong, plus Deputy Interior Minister/Bhumjaithai MP Worasit Liangprasit’s father namely Somkiat Liangprasit.
Somjate who currently represents a Sukhothai constituency at parliament was a former secretary to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during the latter’s time as interior minister last year whilst Somkiat is a brother of Satul provincial administration head Samrit Liangprasit.
Nevertheless, the number of suspects recently named by the election commissioners was relatively, arguably low, compared to as many as 229 earlier accused by iLaw activist Yingcheep Atchanont including 138 allegedly Bhumjaithai-made senators and 91 others directly attached to or more or less connected with Newin’s ruling camp.
Those Bhumjaithai suspects who have been kept intact by the commissioners from litigation in the Supreme Court emerged as well-known politicians ranging from Anutin as party leader and Newin as de facto party boss to several, current members of cabinet such as Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Transport Minister Patrapong Patraprasit, Tourism & Sports Minister Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Prime Minister’s Office Ministers Paradorn Prisananantakul and chief government whip Korawee Prisananantakul, among others.
The commissioners, four of whom had been handpicked by an overwhelming, pro-Bhumjaithai majority of senators, were taken to task by government critics for resolving to unduly protect Newin’s camp from a legal battle in the Supreme Court.
The People’s, the largest opposition party, have vowed to press misconduct and duty-negligence charges in court against the commissioners for undeniable failure to bring the other suspects to justice and to take steps to have them all prosecuted in court on electoral rigging charges.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: One of the senator suspect gets sympathetic hug from another one at Parliament today, Sep. 15, 2026. Photo – PPTVHD36
Insert: Election Commission Chairman Narong Klanwarin and Deputy Secretary-General Sub-Lt. Pasakorn Siriphakayaporn announcing their decision on the senatorial rigging case yesterday, Sep. 14, 2026. – Photo – PPTVHD37
Also read:
People’s to press misconduct, duty-negligence charges against election commissioners
No Bhumjaithai suspects found guilty by election commissioners over senatorial rigging conspiracy
Navy’s frigate project might hit snag due to domestic industry’s appeal
Energy protesters contront PM at Gastech exhibition
Sarcasm launched on House floor over hush-hush ties between election commissioners. Newin
Several among 22 Bhumjaithai figures might be sued in Supreme Court over senatorial rigging plot
Election Commissioners might be sued in Constitutional Court over senatorial rigging conspiracy
Pheu Thai MPs tipped to abstain from voting for PM after censure debate
25 years later, WoT has the “War on Terror” achieved?
Sihasak slams Cambodia for distorting the truth while attending key maritime hearing
Talks held on jump in expressway tolls in December
