Deputy Pm In Hot Water For Handing Out Free Towels

[george]

ELECTORAL VIOLATION

EC to file charges against Suthep

Deputy PM, two colleagues in hot water for handing out free towels

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission will file a charge of electoral fraud against Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban for handing out towels carrying his and the party's name.

If found guilty, Suthep could be stripped of his electoral rights for 10 years, given a jail term ranging from one to 10 years and forced to pay a fine from Bt20,000 to Bt200,000.

Election commissioner Prapun Naigowit said yesterday the EC would go ahead with filing a charge against Suthep because the Court of Appeal yesterday endorsed its judgement on the matter.

Court sanction is required because the EC had endorsed the victory of politicians linked to Suthep before proof of fraud was found. Prapun said the EC's legal side would inform election authorities in Surat Thani to file an electoral-fraud charge against Suthep.

A similar charge would also be filed against Democrat politicians Chumpol Kanchana and Praphon Ninwatcharamanee for handing out towels with their and the party's name to people at a Songkran celebration last year, the commissioner said.

The incident took place in the run-up to local elections in Koh Samui, where Suthep's brother Thanee and Surinya Yuennan, another politician linked to the Democrats, were contesting. Thanee's victory was rescinded by the EC and Surinya disqualified.

Prapun said even though Suthep is a Democrat executive, the charges against him would not lead to the ruling party being dissolved. "This case involves a local election, while the dissolution penalty only applies to MP elections," Prapun said.

He added that the law does not require Suthep to be suspended and that as an MP he could exercise his right for immunity during a parliamentary session.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, declined to comment on the matter yesterday, saying he preferred to look at the court verdict in detail first.

In a separate development, Prompong Nopparit, spokesman for the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said he submitted a petition to the EC asking for it to expedite inquiries into alleged irregularities involving a donation of Bt258 million to the Democrat Party. Prompong said two months had passed since Pheu Thai filed the complaint. He said if the EC adhered to the same principle used in the dissolution of Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties, the Democrat Party should also end up being disbanded.

-- The Nation 2009-05-29

[TAWP]

Handing out towels and the likes, as most politicians like to do, is a violation? (More buttons and mugs in my home-country, but still...) Yikes.

Well, if they knew it they are stupid and if they didn't, well...it is their duty to know.

Rather have them remove anything remotely wrong at this point, no matter what side.

[givenall]

Handing out towels and the likes, as most politicians like to do, is a violation? (More buttons and mugs in my home-country, but still...) Yikes.

Well, if they knew it they are stupid and if they didn't, well...it is their duty to know.

Rather have them remove anything remotely wrong at this point, no matter what side.

Who passes these nonsense rules? And when they pass, may be they think it does not apply to themselves

[Journalist]

Clearly, clearly improper, and an abuse.This man needs to be removed from polluting the political scene with his bathroom accoutrements.

eg How much does one of those nice fluffy Singapore Ritz Carlton towels cost *? THB 500 AT LEAST. Thats the price of a vote.

[sibeymai]

Well, if they knew it they are stupid and if they didn't, well...it is their duty to know.

Couldn't agree more.

Politicians' knowledge about election law is a reflection of their overall competence to perform their duties. One only needs to look at Thailand to see the result.

[Sao Jiang Mai]

Agree. Shame the same standard wasn't applied to Thaksin's 'honest mistake'.

[seri thai]

ELECTORAL VIOLATION

EC to file charges against Suthep

If found guilty, Suthep could be stripped of his electoral rights for 10 years, given a jail term ranging from one to 10 years and forced to pay a fine from Bt20,000 to Bt200,000.

He added that the law does not require Suthep to be suspended and that as an MP he could exercise his right for immunity during a parliamentary session.

-- The Nation 2009-05-29

Says it all really doesn't it, Thaksin used the same canard to remain as PM after being convicted of electoral fraud after his election.

and lets not discuss the coup!

[DaleBlue]

Handing out towels and the likes, as most politicians like to do, is a violation? (More buttons and mugs in my home-country, but still...) Yikes.

Well, if they knew it they are stupid and if they didn't, well...it is their duty to know.

Rather have them remove anything remotely wrong at this point, no matter what side.

Who passes these nonsense rules? And when they pass, may be they think it does not apply to themselves

Just like Samak got sacked for being a cook. hahahahahaha

[britmaveric]

Time to toss out the Dems for corruption... after all what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

[Scott]

The golden boys turn to silver and now they are tarnished.

[Plus]

Suthep giving out towels.

He's the last dinosaur in Dem govt. Busting him might actually improve the image, though I don't know in whose eyes.

[khundon]

The towels in my hotel room were so thick and fluffy, I could hardly get the lids closed on my suitcases.

[Jungian]

Does this mean he has to "throw in the towel"?

[coconutmonkey]

Yes.

Also if you play with Barbie.

Meanwhile, falang gets stabbed three times and may pay overstay while he is in hospital with punctured lungs!

Another set of murders on the front page of the Thai wrath..... and a horrifying car crash, while a student is raped in her room

Those groups unnamed trade drugs and sell their female nationals for agency scams to work in brothels overseas

--Proud to say priorities are set well (Personally financially, that is)!

But...

Only gives strenght to the Govt! But, what is it covering at the moment? :D

[ParadiseLost]

If they enforce all the rules there will be no-one left

[Sandstone Art]

Clearly, clearly improper, and an abuse.This man needs to be removed from polluting the political scene with his bathroom accoutrements.

eg How much does one of those nice fluffy Singapore Ritz Carlton towels cost *? THB 500 AT LEAST. Thats the price of a vote.

Being a 6 stars hotel, it should cost at least 3 times more than the value you estimated!