The Rayong Provincial Court has sentenced former Move Forward Party MP Nakhonchai Khunnarong, also known as “Ice”, to one year in prison after ruling that he knowingly ran for office despite being disqualified. The court found that he was aware of a prior criminal conviction that made him ineligible to stand in the 2023 general election. In addition to the prison sentence, he has been ordered to repay funds received during his time in office and faces a long-term ban from voting.
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The ruling was delivered on 9 March 2026 after prosecutors brought charges against the former Rayong constituency 3 MP. The court determined that Nakhonchai had previously been sentenced to imprisonment in a theft case in 2015, which meant he lacked the legal qualifications required to contest the election. Despite this, he proceeded with his candidacy and submitted false information to officials during the registration process.
During proceedings, Nakhonchai admitted the charges against him. The court ruled that his actions constituted offences under the Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives as well as the Criminal Code. Judges initially imposed a two-year prison sentence but reduced it by half to one year due to his confession, with no suspension of the sentence granted in order to deter similar conduct by others.
The court also ordered the revocation of Nakhonchai’s electoral rights for a period of 20 years. In addition, he must return salary payments and other benefits received while serving as an MP, amounting to 402,055 baht, to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.
The criminal verdict follows an earlier civil ruling issued by the Rayong Provincial Court on 3 March 2025. In that case, the court ordered Nakhonchai to compensate the state for the cost of organising a new election after his disqualification. The total amount he must pay in that case, including principal and interest, is 8,228,748 baht.
The combined rulings highlight the legal consequences of submitting false eligibility information during Thailand’s election process. Authorities stated that the punishment was intended to uphold the integrity of electoral procedures and ensure that candidates comply fully with qualification requirements.
ThaiRath reported that the enforcement of the prison sentence and financial penalties will proceed according to the court’s orders. The rulings also close a legal chapter stemming from the 2023 election in Rayong constituency 3, where a new vote had to be organised following the disqualification of the original winner.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thairath 10 Mar 2026