Thai Candidate Sues Over Staged Vote-Buying Post

Photo via Facebook/ ไพโรจน์ บัวเผื่อน

A parliamentary candidate from the People’s Party in Saraburi province, Thailand, has announced legal action against a woman who admitted to staging a fake vote-buying scenario on social media. The incident began when the woman, Rungnapa Kotphuthorn, posted a photo on Facebook showing a 1,000-baht note with an election leaflet from a People’s Party candidate, suggesting bribery. This quickly sparked allegations against Pairoj Buapuean, a candidate in the area.

The Facebook post was tagged in Chanthaburi province, and its visibility led to accusations of vote-buying against Buapuean. Users online demanded a response, with claims suggesting he was offering money for votes. Buapuean denied these allegations on his own Facebook page, revealing that the woman later contacted him, admitting the post was fabricated for social media attention.

Despite the woman's post being deleted and a public apology issued, Buapuean has chosen to proceed with a police complaint to defend his and his party’s reputation. The woman's apology acknowledged her actions as reckless, accepting any forthcoming complaints, and stating her intent was purely for fun without political motives.

Yanathicha Buapuean, a former People’s Party MP, reminded the public of the serious penalties associated with election law violations. Under Thai law, falsely suggesting a candidate engages in vote-buying can result in a prison sentence of up to two years, a fine of 40,000 baht, and a voting rights suspension for five years.

Both Pairoj Buapuean and the woman have been called to a police station for questioning. As of now, the police have not announced any decisions regarding potential legal actions against the woman involved, reported The Thaiger.

Key Takeaways

• The staged vote-buying incident has prompted legal action by the candidate involved.

• The woman publicly apologized and acknowledged her actions as a mistake.

• Election-related false accusations in Thailand carry severe legal consequences.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2026-01-14