Thai EC decides to charge Democrat MP

[webfact]

EC decides to charge Democrat MP
Chanikarn Phumhirun,
Pimnara Pradubwit
The Nation August

Chooses to drop disqualification complaint against Sukhumbhand

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission has thrown out a disqualification complaint filed against Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and instead taken up criminal charges against Democrat Songkhla MP Sirichok Sopha for allegedly defaming Pheu Thai gubernatorial candidate Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said yesterday.

Sirichok allegedly claimed that Pongsapat was involved in the arson attacks during the 2010 political riots. The EC said Sirichok posted a photograph on Facebook of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Pongsapat on a truck with the caption: "Does this picture remind you of the incidents that took place when our country was set on fire?"

The EC said this post could be deemed as having tarnished Pongsapat's image and might have misled voters about the candidate.

The EC also dropped a disqualification complaint filed by former appointed senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana against Sukhum-bhand over claims that Dr Seri Wongmontha had misled voters about other candidates. Ruangkrai and four voters alleged that Seri had posted a message on Facebook calling on voters to choose No 16, which was Sukhumbhand's electoral number, saying "if you don't vote for him, they will come".

The EC ruled that there was no evidence to prove this post was directly linked to Sukhumbhand.

Sirichok, meanwhile, said he did not know which laws the EC would be using to charge him, adding that he was willing to fight the case in all three courts - criminal, appeals and supreme. He said he had never been summoned for questioning.

Election Commissioner Wisuth Pothitaen said the EC had made its decision with sincerity, after two of its fact-finding panels submitted their reports.

"Sirichok will not be suspended as MP when the complaint against him goes to court. It's not like he's being given a red or yellow card. However, if he is convicted according to Article 118 of the local election law, then the penalties will include up to 10 years in prison, a fine of between Bt20,000 and Bt100,000 as well as a 10-year ban from politics," he said.

Meanwhile, the commission also ruled that it would further investigate a disqualification complaint filed against Sukhumbhand and Prawet district municipal councillor Kitpol Cherchukijkul. The complaint filed by Saengyok Saengyoktrakarn alleges that the governor and councillor launched a smear campaign against other candidates, alleging that while campaigning for votes, Kitpol had announced that street vendors would be removed if they did not vote for Sukhumbhand.

The EC said it could not be proved that Sukhumbhand was in the truck during the election rally on Srinakarin Road, but added that the governor would be informed of the charge as it had ordered further investigation.

The EC has also dropped a complaint against Pongsapat filed by four Bangkok officials who accused him of abusing his authority when he told Social Development and Human Security Ministry officials to collect voters' personal information during the election campaign. The EC ruled that the officials had carried out their duty as per normal and their actions could not be linked to Pongsapat.


-- The Nation 2013-08-30

[LuckyLew]

Guess in Thailand you can do anything you want .... except do or say anything bad against the PTP

[Tatsujin]

Damn, they're worse than a bunch of 5 year olds. Grow up and do some proper work for the benefit of "the country" and "the people" for once in your miserable pointless lives.

[Zolt]

Guess in Thailand you can do anything you want .... except do or say anything bad against the PTP

It's the same EC that disbanded the PPP not so long ago, so at least they can't be accused of taking sides. Still, having them waste their time on base (alleged) slander is ridiculous.

[chooka]

The government seems to be working very hard in rounding up, charging and silencing opposition. If they could transfer just a small percentage of this energy to running the country things might actually progress.

The Australian election (7/92013) is in full swing at the moment and a lot of muck is being thrown around. Don't see the Australian government arresting the opposition because they don't agree with them.

Edited August 30, 2013 by chooka

[webfact]

ECT files defamation charges against Democrat Sirichok

BANGKOK, 30 Aug 2013, (NNT) - The Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has filed a charge against Democrat Party MP Sirichok Sopha for defamation against Police General Pongspat Pongchareon during the Bangkok Governor election earlier this year.

The decision was announced by the ECT Secretary General Puchong Nutrawong who revealed that the ECT deemed the picture posted on social media Facebook by Mr. Sirichok a defamation act against Pheu Thai Party's gubernatorial candidate Pongspat and providing sufficient evidence to press charges against Mr. Sirichok.

The picture, altered by computer software, posted by Mr. Sirichoke, depicting Mr. Pongspat together with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other members of the Pheu Thai Party staging an election campaign in front of a burning background believed to be taken from the 2010 military crackdown. The Election Commission ruled that the image could strongly affect the popularity of Mr. Pongspat and mislead the public that Mr. Pongspat was responsible for the event.

The ECT also dismissed another defamation charge filed by Mr. Ruengchai Lekitjawattana and four other people against M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva and Dr. Seree Wongmontha due to the lack of evidence.


-- NNT 2013-08-30