Deputy Leader Of The People Power Party To Stand Trial For Attempted Murder

[sriracha john]

EC Hands Evidence Against Yongyuth to Supreme Court

Thailand’s Election Commission is set to hand over evidence against House Speaker Yongyuth Thiyapairat to the Supreme Court’s Division on Election Cases. If the court accepts the case for deliberation, Yougyuth will be officially removed from the post of House Speaker immediately.

Suthipol Thaweechaikan, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, will forward the evidence to the Supreme Court by this afternoon or, if not, tomorrow morning. The poll panel is currently finalizing related documentation.

Tavin Intraruksa, head of the EC’s sub-committee on Yongyuth’s case, will be responsible for submitting the evidence to the Supreme Court’s Division on Election Cases.

Yongyuth Thiyapairat is a People Party Power Party MP in Zone 1 of the partylist system. He was later voted House Speaker before being found guilty of election fraud by the national poll panel. If the Supreme court accepts his case, Yongyuth will be forced to immediately resign from the post of House Speaker.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission is expected to come to a decision on the possible dissolution of the Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties. Eleven pages of documentation of the summary of evidence, has been sent to the central poll panel.

The EC is also expected to deliberate on the remaining six Senatorial candidates who have not yet been certified by the commission.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

Standard behavior when someone is on the ropes and in danger of being KO'd is to swing out wildly against their opponent...

Yongyuth files suit against EC

House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat Monday filed a complaint asking police to launch criminal proceedings against the Election Commission for abuse of power in charging him for electoral fraud.

Yongyuth's move is seen as a defence strategy to undermine the prosecution case against him at the Supreme Court.

In his complaint filed at the Crime Suppression Division, Yongyuth contends the EC conspired to frame him for committing electoral and criminal violations against the state.

He has singled out EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond and two EC members, Sumeth Upanisakorn and Prapun Naigowit, for their involvement in the conspiracy.

He has also charged Maj General Chaiya Siriamphankul for acting beyond his jurisdiction to raise charges against him. Chaiya is a Deputy Commissioner of Police Special Branch who was seconded to assist the EC in investigating campaign violations during the run-up to the December 23 election.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

with the title belt on the line, he's pulling out the stops as he gets pummeled... nearly getting to thumb in the eye stage...

House Speaker suing EC members for red card

BANGKOK – House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat on Monday filed a criminal lawsuit accusing three Election Commission (EC) members of malfeasance for disqualifying him from last December's general election.

Representing Yongyuth, lawyer Picha Vijitsilp filed a complaint at the Thai police's Crime Suppression Division against the three members of the national poll agency -- Apichart Sukhagganond, Sumet Uppanisakorn and Prapan Naikowit.

The trio earlier voted to issue Chiang Rai-MP Yongyuth a 'red-card' for electoral wrongdoing. The EC decision disqualified him from his electoral victory, and forbade him for contesting again.

Yongyuth has suspended himself from his duties as House Speaker since then.

Picha explained that there was probable cause that the three EC members' joint decision was arbitrary and based on their intention to terminate his client's political career.

Yongyuth also charged in his lawsuit that Pol. Major Chaiya Siri-amphankul, chief investigator in charge of the case, was a conspirator supporting the trio's malfeasance.

Concurrently an executive of the ruling coalition People Power Party (PPP), Yongyuth was alleged to have commited election fraud in his constituency in the northern province of Chiang Rai.

The EC will submit its decision regarding the disqualification of Yongyuth to the Supreme Court for its deliberation no later than Tuesday, according to EC Secretary-General Suthiphon Thaveechaikarn.

If the court upholds the EC decision, Yongyuth will lose his parliamentary seat and face a five-year ban from participating in the electoral process.

Moreover, since Yongyuth is concurrently a PPP executive, the EC is obliged to form an investigative committee to see whether his alleged violations were linked to the party.

Should the linkage be suspected, the EC must petition the Constitution Court to rule whether the party should be dissolved.

- TNA

[Tony Clifton]

Stick his ass in jail.

[sriracha john]

[Bagwan]

If somebody had written a book in which the plot mirrored these shenanigans, do you think any publisher would take it onboard? I can't help thinking they'd be giggling too much to write out a rejection slip. This whole ferrago hovers between incredulity and total misbelief.

Surely the sensible thing to do by Thai standards is to drop the whole matter on the grounds that it causing harm to Thailand's reputation. :D

[Tony Clifton]

Reputation?

[sriracha john]

This whole ferrago hovers between incredulity and total misbelief.

An exceptional word (but spelled with an "a") who's definition and example from dictionary.com is nicely displayed in the context of the topic subject:

far·ra·go /fəˈrɑgoʊ, -ˈreɪ-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[fuh-rah-goh, -rey-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun, plural -goes. a confused mixture; hodgepodge; medley: a farrago of doubts, fears, hopes, and wishes.

thank you for that...

ThaiVisa: The hub of educating the masses....

[sriracha john]

well, it's done... it's been sent upstairs...

EC files suit against Yongyuth

The Election Commission Tuesday filed a suit with the Supreme Court seeking to annul the election victory of Parliament President Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

The EC accused Yongyuth of buying votes and asked the Election Department of the high court to revoke Yongyuth's election right.

The court will decide on Thursday whether to proceed with the case.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Court to decide Yongyuth case on Thursday

An Election Commission panel today lodged a 1000-page suit with the Supreme Court accusing House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat of buying votes.

The panel headed by Thawil Intornraksa, authoriesed by the EC to file the suit against Yongyuth, expressed confidence that the EC had a solid case because more than 50 witnesses were ready to testify against the suspect.

He said the EC also requested the court to ban Yongyuth from carrying out political activities. If the court accepts to hear the case, Yongyuth must end his political role.

- The Nation (today)

[sriracha john]

well, this is one way of trying to getting rid of your accusers...

Yongyuth investigator transferred

A police officer who investigated the poll fraud which got House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat into trouble was transferred to work in the restive South yesterday. The transfer came two days before the Supreme Court's election fraud section rules on whether to accept the vote-buying case against the former People Power party deputy leader for consideration. Special Branch Police Commissioner Rapeepat Palawong signed the transfer of Pol Maj-Gen Chaiya Siri-amphankul, the Deputy Chief of the Special Branch, to the Yala-based Police Operations Centre. Chaiya is one of four people Yongyuth lodged police complaints against on Monday, accusing them of attempting to frame him for election offences. The others are EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond and Commissioners Sumeth Upanisakorn and Prapun Naigowit.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Mar2008_news14.php

[sriracha john]

Yongyuth case goes to Supreme Court today

Today, Supreme Court's Criminal Section for Holders of Political Office will decide whether to hear the vote-buying charges against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat. Yongyuth suspended himself from duty after the EC recommended his disqualification for allegedly buying votes in his native Chiang Rai province in the Dec 23 general election. Yongyuth, who has filed a police complaint against the EC, said he was certain the court would take up the case against him today.

If the court finds him guilty, Yongyuth would lose his political rights for five years. It would also lead to a legal process for the dissolution of the People Power Party. He was a Deputy Leader at the time of the alleged offence. The court today will also decide whether to accept for consideration the poll fraud cases against Yongyuth's sister La-ong Tiyapairat, as well as Iam Thongjaisod, Wanpen Pormpak and Surasak

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/20Mar2008_news08.php

[sriracha john]

The decision is in and it's..........

Supreme Court Accepts House Speaker's Electoral Fraud Case

After a long wait, the Supreme Court’s division for election cases has decided to accept the electoral fraud case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

Today the Supreme Court’s division for election cases accepted the Election Commission’s request for a review into the electoral fraud case involving House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat and his sistern La-ong Tiyapairat.

According to the law, this means Yongyuth has to cease all his political duties, including his house speaker and MP posts, immediately.

The court has also scheduled for Yongyuth and his sister to collect the papers on their charges within seven days or else they will be posted in front of their houses.

The EC’s legal representative Thawil Intararaksa and Yongyuth’s lawyer Karn Thienkaew both say they are confident in their evidence and witnesses.

Yongyuth’s lawyer will also have the court examine the two election commissioners who voted against the red card for Yongyuth, namely Sodsri Satayatham and Somchai Jungprasert.

The Election Commission had earlier ruled there is merit to hand a red card to Yongyuth and a yellow card to his sister for electoral fraud after evidence was revealed that Yongyuth had paid for a trip to Bangkok for several village headmen from Chiang Rai, which could constitute vote-buying.

However, the EC’s ruling has to be reviewed by the Supreme Court’s division for election cases.

Yongyuth has denied the electoral fraud charge against him all along and claimed he was set up.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

[sriracha john]

Supreme Court to proceed with case against Yongyuth

Supreme Court Thursday decided to conduct a judicial review of the election fraud case House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

Yongyuth, a party-list MP of the People Power Party and La-ong Tiyapairat, a Chiang Rai MP, from the same party were accused by the Election Commission of having bought votes.

The court asked Yongyuth and La-ong to come to the court to receive a copy of affidavit within seven days.

- The Nation (today)

===========================================================================

Thai Supreme Court to hear House Speaker's vote fraud case

BANGKOK, March 20 (TNA) – Thailand’s Supreme Court agreed on Thursday to hear a vote fraud case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

The court’s move should compel him to suspend his duties pending its final verdict.

Yongyuth (People Power Party-Chiang Rai) is required to collect a copy of the charges at the Supreme Court within seven days, according to the Supreme Court statement.

The court opted for a written statement of its preliminary ruling to hear the case instead of announcing it on the bench.

Yongyuth, a key member of ruling PPP, did not personally show up at the court to hear the ruling but assigned his attorney to represent him. The lawyer said his client, standing firm that the charges were groundless, would fight the case.

According to the election law, Yongyuth must suspend his duties both as an MP and the House speaker until the Supreme Court rules otherwise.

Should the Election Commission’s (EC) decision receive endorsement, Yongyuth will be disqualified from the House and banned from politics for five years.

The conviction of a party executive may, as imposed by the law, also lead to a dissolution of the party.

Since Yongyuth is concurrently a PPP executive, his conviction might put the fate of the ruling party, as well as the coalition government, in jeopardy. He was accused of bribing local officials to seek votes for him in the Dec 2006 general election.

The EC recently ruled that he was guilty of electoral wrongdoing and disqualified him from the House membership. The decision was later forwarded to the Supreme Court for endorsement.

============================================================================

Yongyuth in the dock

The Supreme Court decided on Thursday to hear the vote-buying charges against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat - a case which could shake the entire government. The court's criminal section for political office holders ordered Yongyuth to pick up an official notice of the charges, but did not immediately set a trial date. "The court has decided to hear the case and will send a letter to Yongyut Tiyapairat and (his sister) La-ong Tiyapairat to come and pick up a copy of the charges within seven days," a Supreme Court statement said. Ms La-ong is also a defendant in the poll fraud case. The Election Commission (EC) alleges that they committed fraud by paying and influencing village officials during the campaign leading up to the election last Dec 23. Yongyuth, 47, was instrumental in building support for ex-premier Thaksin Shinwatra in rural areas, particularly among poor farmers.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/topstories/tops...s.php?id=126636

[soundman]

Thanx for all the updates SJ.

Can't wait for this guy to get hung by the short and curlies & hopefully it will be the start of a domino effect where the courts begin to realise that they have the power to after the biggest and baddest of the whole bunch.

[sriracha john]

The Supreme Court decision to accept Yongyuth's case and ease further into the realm of possibility for PPP dissolution has already had some other effects.....

"We need some constitutional amendments..... and quick."

"all for the good of the country, mind you...as that's all that is ever on our minds"

"and this case is the sole reason the whole world market response to it is causing a drop in the Thai stock market"....

Party dissolution bill amendment may help maintain confidence of investors

The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Surapong Suebwonglee, said the government should amend the constitutional laws regarding the elections and the dissolution of political parties, as he does not believe that it would be appropriate to dissolve a party if one of its party executive has committed a wrongdoing.

He says such laws would not create confidence of foreign investors, and he would like them to be revised.

In response to the decrease of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index by almost 10 points yesterday (March 20th), the Surapong says investors have been losing confidence, following the court’s acceptance to consider former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat's election fraud case.

- ThaiNews (today)

===========================================================

this medical doctor is a real whiz kid in the arena of world finance....

[plachon]

Court to decide Yongyuth case on Thursday

An Election Commission panel today lodged a 1000-page suit with the Supreme Court accusing House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat of buying votes.

The panel headed by Thawil Intornraksa, authoriesed by the EC to file the suit against Yongyuth, expressed confidence that the EC had a solid case because more than 50 witnesses were ready to testify against the suspect.

He said the EC also requested the court to ban Yongyuth from carrying out political activities. If the court accepts to hear the case, Yongyuth must end his political role.

- The Nation (today)

How many of the 50 witnesses will finally be prepared to testify I wonder, now that underhand tactics are being used to intimidate them. In Thai courts, does their original statements count for much, or does it mainly depend on what they say under oath in court? I hope they don't waiver beforehand, but with Chalerm's son's case in mind, and these movements of police officers and other govt officials, then one can't be too confident that justice will be served.

[Tony Clifton]

[Jai Dee]

Yongyuth celebrates birthday

House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat Wednesday threw a birthday party for 80 MPs from northern and northeastern provinces at his home in Chiang Rai.

Surachai Baochanya, former Khon Kaeen MP said he joined other MPs to wish happy birthday to Yongyuth at a party organised in Chiang Rai yesterday.

Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai also joined the event.

He said Yongyuth was not concerned about the disqualification trial. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will meet with Yongyuth in Chiang Rai when he visits Chiang Mai.

Source: The Nation - 03 April 2008

[Jai Dee]

Former PM voices support for House Speaker during trial period

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra continued his merit making tour after traveling north to sacred temples in Chiang Rai and Phayao province and attending the birthday anniversary of resigned House Speaker and Deputy Leader of the People Power Party Yongyuth Thiyaphairat. The gathering took place at Mr. Yongyuth’s residence in แม่จัน district of Chiang Rai province.

At the celebration, Police Lieutenant Captain Thaksin wished Mr. Yongyuth to pass by his current political turmoil and continue his position as Chairman of the House of Representatives. The event was attended by members of the parliament in the northern region and Police Lieutenant Captain Thaksin said that he would morally support the House Speaker during this trying time.

Before returning to Bangkok the former Prime Minister and his son made merit at a 1500 year old sacred shrine in Chiang Saen district.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 April 2008

[sriracha john]

The Refrigerator is up to his old tactics.... intimidation....

Key Eye Witness in House Speaker's Electoral Fraud Case Asks for Protection

The son of the key eyewitness in the poll fraud case against the House Speaker asked for protection from the Election Commission, claiming his family members have a received threat on their lives.

Deputy Secretary General of the Election Commission or EC, Police Colonel Jarungwit Pumma received a complaint today from Kriengkrai Changkawkam, son of Chaiwat Chgangkawkum, Village Chief of Tambon Janjwa in Chiang Rai's Mae Chan District.

Chaiwat is the key eyewitness in the election fraud case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, who's also party-list MP of the People Power Party.

Kriengkrai claims his father has been pressured to reverse his testimony in court and that he must escape the area as some influential figures in the province have been hunting him for a month.

He also says his family members have received phone calls and letters threatening them to make contact with Chaiwat, otherwise they will be killed.

Kriengkrai asks the EC to assign staff to protect his family as the people threatening them have much influence in the province.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Jarungwit says the EC will cooperate with the Eyewitness Protection Office of the Justice Ministry to send its staff to oversee the security of Kriengkrai's family.

Kriengkrai also visited the National Police Office to ask for justice and protection.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

[Tony Clifton]

Poor guy, who can he get protection from when even Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department has reverted from Dr. Thaksin to Police Lieutenant Captain Thaksin.

[sriracha john]

EC rules police should provide protection for witness in Yongyuth's case

The Election Commission ruled on Friday to request that the prime minister instruct the National Police Commission to provide protection for witnesses in the electoral disqualification case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

EC Secretary-General Suthipol Thaweechaikarn said the EC heeded the complaint filed by Kriangkrai Changkhaokam, son of Chaiwat Changkhaokam, a witness in the electoral fraud case against Yongyuth.

Kriangkrai requested witness protection after he and his family were threatened and he was told to change his testimony in the court.

The EC will report the witness intimidation to the Supreme Court for acknowledgement and will request that the judges hear Chaiwat's testimony in advance.

- The Nation (today)

[Bagwan]

This whole ferrago hovers between incredulity and total misbelief.

An exceptional word (but spelled with an "a") who's definition and example from dictionary.com is nicely displayed in the context of the topic subject:

Indeed it is a spelling error. I am indebted to you, ajarn. :-)

I spotted another error. I should have written disbelief rather than misbelief. Sack cloth and ashes time for me. 5555

[sriracha john]

Disqualified House Speaker Seeks Veto against Poll Panel's Ruling

The disqualified House Speaker's lawyer plans to fight the poll panel's ruling that resulted in the political disqualification of his client.

Karn Thienkaew, lawyer of House Speaker and party-list MP Yongyuth Tiyapairat, is set to fight the Election Commission or the EC's petition, asking the Supreme Court to nullify Yongyuth's political status.

Today is also the last day for the accused to submit a rejection of the EC's ruling on the election fraud case in Chaing Rai Province.

After receiving the rejection and further evidence from the accused, the Supreme Court will subsequently examine the evidence presented by the plaintiff and the accused and set dates for the hearings.

Meanwhile, member of the National Counter Corruption Commission and former Election Commissioner, Wicha Mahakhun, expresses concern over the government's charter rewrite, citing that the move could result in the nullification of the alleged election fraud cases that are still under the court stage or EC's investigation.

Wicha also says he is not worried about the proposal by the ruling People Power Party to shorten the terms of his agency and that of the poll panel.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

Apichart leaps to defence of Election Commission

EC Chairman Apichart Sukhakkhanont has denied PM Samak’s claims that the EC had fabricated evidence used to pin down House Speaker Yongyuth Thiyapairat on electoral fraud charges. The PM made the accusation against the EC during his weekly programme aired on television last Sunday. "Whether or not House Speaker and PPP's party-list MP Yongyuth had fabricated any evidence in his defence, I do not know. What I do know is that all pieces of evidence that the EC examined were genuine. The EC’s handling of the case and its decision were in no way staged as claimed by the

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127291

[Thai at Heart]

Court to decide Yongyuth case on Thursday

An Election Commission panel today lodged a 1000-page suit with the Supreme Court accusing House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat of buying votes.

The panel headed by Thawil Intornraksa, authoriesed by the EC to file the suit against Yongyuth, expressed confidence that the EC had a solid case because more than 50 witnesses were ready to testify against the suspect.

He said the EC also requested the court to ban Yongyuth from carrying out political activities. If the court accepts to hear the case, Yongyuth must end his political role.

- The Nation (today)

Is that on A4 narrow feint or a 7 year olds homework book?

[sriracha john]

EC denies Samak charge in Yongyuth case

EC Commissioner Sumet Upanisakorn has countered PM Samak’s claims that the EC is colluding with a certain army general to prepare a second red card for House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat in the event that he is cleared of his first red card. "I don’t know how the PM managed to reach his own conclusion on this matter," he said. "It’s very possible that someone gave him distorted information, but I don’t want to brand this as evidence of trying to discredit the EC."

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127354

[sriracha john]

Yongyuth to quit

Yongyuth Tiyapairat will hold a press conference at 5 pm today amid speculation that he will reign as Parliament president and House speaker.

He was suspended from duties last month after the Supreme Court accepted an appeal by the Election Commission that he had involved in electoral fraud related to the December election.

Yongyuth is a party list of the ruling People Power Party.

- The Nation (today)

[sriracha john]

Thai House Speaker announces resignation

Thailand's House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat on Wednesday announced his resignation as Parliament President and House Speaker at a news briefing at the Parliament House in Bangkok.

- Xinhua (today)