Thai Election Commission to refer 26 senators to Supreme Court over alleged fraud
The Election Commission says 26 senators are among 77 people accused of election fraud linked to Thailand’s June 2024 Senate election.
Thailand’s Election Commission plans to refer 26 sitting senators to the Supreme Court over alleged election fraud linked to the June 2024 Senate election.
The commission said the senators are among 77 people accused in the case. The group also includes 36 unsuccessful Senate candidates and 15 other political figures. None of those accused was identified.
The allegations reportedly involve senators allied with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai party. The commission has 60 days to file its petition, after which the Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the case.
Those convicted face up to 10 years in prison for each offence, a fine of B200,000, or both, according to the report.
The 200-member Senate was selected through a three-round process in June 2024. Candidates chose other candidates to represent 20 sectors, including justice, education, public health, industry, arts and sport, rather than being elected directly by Thai voters. Analysts said the final Senate included significant numbers of former civil servants, military and police officers, as well as many supporters of Bhumjaithai.
The Senate scrutinises bills passed by the lower house and appoints the heads of key bodies including the Constitutional Court, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission.
The case follows reports that 229 people, including more than 130 senators, senior Bhumjaithai members and other politicians, were implicated in a government investigation. Senior Election Commission officials did not confirm that figure at a news conference.
Hundreds of people marched through Bangkok on Sunday, calling for the indictment of those 229 people in a protest organised by accountability watchdog iLaw. Yingcheep Atchanont, iLaw’s executive director, said the organisation would release documents it says came from the Election Commission’s investigation if the Supreme Court declines to hear the case.
