Supreme Court upheld prison term for four in election fraud in 2006



BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court today upheld the Appeals Court's ruling to imprison a former election commission official and three other politicians in a case related to the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party hiring small parties to run in the 2006 general election.

The case involved former defence minister and executive committee member of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party Gen Thammarak Isarangkura Na Ayutthaya, and four others who included former election commission official Amornvit Suwanphol, and three other executives of the dissolved Chat Thai and Pattana Chat Thai parties Chavakarn Tosawat, Suksant alias Chatuchai Chaithes and Boontaweesak Amornsin.

The five persons were earlier sentenced by the Criminal Court (court of first Instance) to 3-5 years in prison after finding them guilty in the hiring of small parties to field candidates to run in the election in 2006.

But the five appealed and the Appeals Court acquitted Gen Thammarak of the charge, while sentencing Amornvit to three years and four months in prison, and two years for the rest three.

Today only Amornvit and Boontaweesak appeared in front of the court, while two others escaped.

Gen Thammarak did not appear because the state prosecutor did not appeal his verdict after the Appeals Court reversed the first court’s ruling and set him free.

Today, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling by the Appeals Court and issued warrants for the arrest of Chavakarn Tosawat, and Suksant alias Chatuchai Chaithes who did not appear to hear the final verdict.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/149320


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-03

Election fraud, hmmmm. Someone shouldn't become a leader in a country via election fraud.

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Or at gunpoint.

When i read this name Gen Thammarak Isarangkura Na Ayutthaya, I knew laready that he would never spend a day in prison, only to find a few lines down the article that he was the only one acquitted in the case.

But what had anyone expected with such a last name.

Is this only another saga in the political wheeling and dealing of the Shin Clan? It was not election fraud, this is the way politicians get elected all over the world.

Here is another example of there not being any democracy in Thailand under the Shin's.

The Junta is not perfect by any means but if they put the proper reform in place as they say they will do then I am more than happy to have them in power for the time being.

another time wasting effort i am still trying to work out what they mean by election fraud isnt this the way they do it in europe ?

another time wasting effort i am still trying to work out what they mean by election fraud isnt this the way they do it in europe ?

Here is another example of there not being any democracy in Thailand under the Shin's.

The Junta is not perfect by any means but if they put the proper reform in place as they say they will do then I am more than happy to have them in power for the time being.

That is the whole problem Mr Seeingeye.

It is not for you and I to be happy, this country ( Thailand ) should belong to the Thai people as a whole, not just a few generals and a small group of expat sycophants.

This idea is not colour coded, many Democrat Party members share this view.

In the meantime a large and sometimes impoverished rural population funds ( via VAT) a bloated military which will never fight a war except in a civil war situation against the very people whose labour is funding them. Ironic isn't it?

The fact that a small number of expats are happy should have nothing to do with it.

Here is another example of there not being any democracy in Thailand under the Shin's.

The Junta is not perfect by any means but if they put the proper reform in place as they say they will do then I am more than happy to have them in power for the time being.

That is the whole problem Mr Seeingeye.

It is not for you and I to be happy, this country ( Thailand ) should belong to the Thai people as a whole, not just a few generals and a small group of expat sycophants.

This idea is not colour coded, many Democrat Party members share this view.

In the meantime a large and sometimes impoverished rural population funds ( via VAT) a bloated military which will never fight a war except in a civil war situation against the very people whose labour is funding them. Ironic isn't it?

The fact that a small number of expats are happy should have nothing to do with it.

Good post. The ironic thing is that if people back home would openly support or call for oppressive military juntas and they would happen to be immigrants, the native population would scream bloody murder. Maybe after this is all done, the Thai can send such immigrants packing.

If you as an immigrant cannot even respect the constitution and democratic values, the integration has hopefully failed, not to mention openly supporting oppression against the native Thai population.

I think Thailand would be a better place without such people.

Edited February 3, 201610 yr by sjaak327

Is this only another saga in the political wheeling and dealing of the Shin Clan? It was not election fraud, this is the way politicians get elected all over the world.

Can you reference politicians in another country who got elected by illegally paying some one to stand against them? That's what TRT got caught doing. They knew they wouldn't receive enough votes to win under the rules with no competition, so paid someone to stand.

Is this only another saga in the political wheeling and dealing of the Shin Clan? It was not election fraud, this is the way politicians get elected all over the world.

Can you reference politicians in another country who got elected by illegally paying some one to stand against them? That's what TRT got caught doing. They knew they wouldn't receive enough votes to win under the rules with no competition, so paid someone to stand.

In other democratic countries, the biggest opposition party doesn't normally boycott the election in order to sabotage the democratic process, not surprisingly the 'democratic' party received no penalty for doing so. They of course should also have been disbanded.

Here is another example of there not being any democracy in Thailand under the Shin's.

The Junta is not perfect by any means but if they put the proper reform in place as they say they will do then I am more than happy to have them in power for the time being.

That is the whole problem Mr Seeingeye.

It is not for you and I to be happy, this country ( Thailand ) should belong to the Thai people as a whole, not just a few generals and a small group of expat sycophants.

This idea is not colour coded, many Democrat Party members share this view.

In the meantime a large and sometimes impoverished rural population funds ( via VAT) a bloated military which will never fight a war except in a civil war situation against the very people whose labour is funding them. Ironic isn't it?

The fact that a small number of expats are happy should have nothing to do with it.

Guess your not really familiar with VAT.. most small shops are paying any vat.. only the Big C and stuff.. markets no vat. The poor pay almost no taxes.(especially the rural ones) Its the middle class who is paying for it all and funding the farmers with stuff like the rice program.

Of course its for us to be happy if we like it here under the junta or in your case under the Shins (i see the junta as the lesser evil but they are getting more evil). However none of us can do anything about it that is up to the Thais.. but still we can like or dislike a certain group.

Here is another example of there not being any democracy in Thailand under the Shin's.

The Junta is not perfect by any means but if they put the proper reform in place as they say they will do then I am more than happy to have them in power for the time being.

That is the whole problem Mr Seeingeye.

It is not for you and I to be happy, this country ( Thailand ) should belong to the Thai people as a whole, not just a few generals and a small group of expat sycophants.

This idea is not colour coded, many Democrat Party members share this view.

In the meantime a large and sometimes impoverished rural population funds ( via VAT) a bloated military which will never fight a war except in a civil war situation against the very people whose labour is funding them. Ironic isn't it?

The fact that a small number of expats are happy should have nothing to do with it.

Guess your not really familiar with VAT.. most small shops are paying any vat.. only the Big C and stuff.. markets no vat. The poor pay almost no taxes.(especially the rural ones) Its the middle class who is paying for it all and funding the farmers with stuff like the rice program.

Of course its for us to be happy if we like it here under the junta or in your case under the Shins (i see the junta as the lesser evil but they are getting more evil). However none of us can do anything about it that is up to the Thais.. but still we can like or dislike a certain group.

So under your Thailand you are saying the poor are not allowed to shop at Big C or similar. Guess you are not familiar with VAT as it is supposed to be paid by locals whether they are rich or poor. Your idea that a country should only work for the rich classes has never been successful anywhere, in fact countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA were all founded on the exact opposite principle. All those 4 countries have been found to be durable and not requiring a military takeover ever. Let alone every 4.5 years as is the case with the Thailand the way you want it.

Go back read my post more carefully and you will see I am a supporter of Abhisit. But I am happy as long as he or who ever is chosen by the Thai people, not by you and a handful of non fighting generals

Here is another example of there not being any democracy in Thailand under the Shin's.

The Junta is not perfect by any means but if they put the proper reform in place as they say they will do then I am more than happy to have them in power for the time being.

That is the whole problem Mr Seeingeye.

It is not for you and I to be happy, this country ( Thailand ) should belong to the Thai people as a whole, not just a few generals and a small group of expat sycophants.

This idea is not colour coded, many Democrat Party members share this view.

In the meantime a large and sometimes impoverished rural population funds ( via VAT) a bloated military which will never fight a war except in a civil war situation against the very people whose labour is funding them. Ironic isn't it?

The fact that a small number of expats are happy should have nothing to do with it.

Guess your not really familiar with VAT.. most small shops are paying any vat.. only the Big C and stuff.. markets no vat. The poor pay almost no taxes.(especially the rural ones) Its the middle class who is paying for it all and funding the farmers with stuff like the rice program.

Of course its for us to be happy if we like it here under the junta or in your case under the Shins (i see the junta as the lesser evil but they are getting more evil). However none of us can do anything about it that is up to the Thais.. but still we can like or dislike a certain group.

So under your Thailand you are saying the poor are not allowed to shop at Big C or similar. Guess you are not familiar with VAT as it is supposed to be paid by locals whether they are rich or poor. Your idea that a country should only work for the rich classes has never been successful anywhere, in fact countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA were all founded on the exact opposite principle. All those 4 countries have been found to be durable and not requiring a military takeover ever. Let alone every 4.5 years as is the case with the Thailand the way you want it.

Go back read my post more carefully and you will see I am a supporter of Abhisit. But I am happy as long as he or who ever is chosen by the Thai people, not by you and a handful of non fighting generals

No what I am saying is that the poor local people shop far more in markets and local shops thus avoiding VAT its the Bangkok middle class that is most hit by VAT and taxes on wages while the poor pay almost no tax.

You are saying the poor are paying for the army through VAT I am saying that they don't pay much VAT. Just go to rural Thailand and see how many go to Big C, they prefer the cheaper markets. All local markets and local food sellers and even small businesses don't pay VAT they are exempt of it.

Is this only another saga in the political wheeling and dealing of the Shin Clan? It was not election fraud, this is the way politicians get elected all over the world.

Can you reference politicians in another country who got elected by illegally paying some one to stand against them? That's what TRT got caught doing. They knew they wouldn't receive enough votes to win under the rules with no competition, so paid someone to stand.

In other democratic countries, the biggest opposition party doesn't normally boycott the election in order to sabotage the democratic process, not surprisingly the 'democratic' party received no penalty for doing so. They of course should also have been disbanded.

Political parties have the right to stand for elections and one might say the moral duty, but there may be circumstances they decide to refrain. Democratically.

So, 'they' should of course not be disbanded as there's no legal reason for doing so.

Is this only another saga in the political wheeling and dealing of the Shin Clan? It was not election fraud, this is the way politicians get elected all over the world.

Can you reference politicians in another country who got elected by illegally paying some one to stand against them? That's what TRT got caught doing. They knew they wouldn't receive enough votes to win under the rules with no competition, so paid someone to stand.

In other democratic countries, the biggest opposition party doesn't normally boycott the election in order to sabotage the democratic process, not surprisingly the 'democratic' party received no penalty for doing so. They of course should also have been disbanded.

But under the Thai constitution at that time it was perfectly legal to do.

Equally it was illegal to pay other parties to stand against them.

You keep quoting the constitution this and that but what the Democrats did WAS legal so why should they have been disbanded.

If anything the TRT should have been disbanded and the were later on.

Is this only another saga in the political wheeling and dealing of the Shin Clan? It was not election fraud, this is the way politicians get elected all over the world.

Can you reference politicians in another country who got elected by illegally paying some one to stand against them? That's what TRT got caught doing. They knew they wouldn't receive enough votes to win under the rules with no competition, so paid someone to stand.

In other democratic countries, the biggest opposition party doesn't normally boycott the election in order to sabotage the democratic process, not surprisingly the 'democratic' party received no penalty for doing so. They of course should also have been disbanded.

But under the Thai constitution at that time it was perfectly legal to do.

Equally it was illegal to pay other parties to stand against them.

You keep quoting the constitution this and that but what the Democrats did WAS legal so why should they have been disbanded.

If anything the TRT should have been disbanded and the were later on.

Yes I concede that it WAS legal. Of course it wasn't above board as the reason was to frustrate the democratic process. Hopefully the new constitution makes such behavior impossible, or in other words, even IF such party decides to not contest, it would not mean that elections in all constituencies cannot be concluded.