EC Ruling on Senate Collusion and Bhumjaithai Figures

Matichon•Politics•48m ago

Reader Briefing

The Election Commission of Thailand decided not to prosecute 21 political figures from the Bhumjaithai Party regarding alleged Senate election collusion.

•The Election Commission issued ruling 1526/2026 on September 14, 2026.
•The ruling involves allegations that 21 individuals, including Anutin Charnvirakul and Newin Chidjob, influenced Senate election results.
•The Election Commission dismissed the allegations due to unreliable witness testimony from three individuals.
•One witness, Ekarat Changlao, was deemed biased due to a prior dispute with the Bhumjaithai Party.

Overview

•On September 14, 2026, the Election Commission published ruling 1526/2026 signed by Narong Klanwarin.
•The Election Commission investigated 427 individuals on 7 counts of violating the Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators 2018.
•The Election Commission decided not to prosecute 21 individuals, including Anutin Charnvirakul and Newin Chidjob, regarding allegations of helping or hindering Senate candidates under Section 76.
•The Election Commission found that allegations against the 21 political figures were based on testimony from three witnesses (16/26, 21/26, and 22/26) provided late in the investigation.
•The Election Commission questioned the motive of witness 16/26, Ekarat Changlao, who was removed from the Bhumjaithai Party following a prison sentence of over 11 years in a Khon Kaen Teachers Savings Cooperative embezzlement case.
•The Election Commission noted that the three witnesses provided contradictory and suspicious testimony regarding Senate quotas and mobile phone seizures.
•The Election Commission determined the witnesses' credibility was undermined after they submitted letters to the Chairperson of the Election Commission to retract their original statements.

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Key Entities

Organization

Election Commission(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง)

The body that issued ruling 1526/2026 regarding the Senate election investigation.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

The political party whose 21 members and executives were accused of Senate collusion.

Khon Kaen Provincial Court(ศาลจังหวัดขอนแก่น)

The court that sentenced Ekarat Changlao to over 11 years in prison.

Kla Dharma Party(พรรคกล้าธรรม)

The political party that Ekarat Changlao joined after leaving the Bhumjaithai Party.

Person

Narong Klanwarin(ณรงค์ กลั่นวารินทร์)

The Chairperson of the Election Commission who signed the ruling.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

The Prime Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party who was among the 21 individuals not prosecuted.

Newin Chidjob(เนวิน ชิดชอบ)

An individual associated with the Bhumjaithai Party who was among the 21 individuals not prosecuted.

Ekarat Changlao(เอกราช ช่างเหลา)

Witness 16/26 and former Bhumjaithai Party MP whose testimony was deemed unreliable.

Assadang Sawaengkan(อัษฎางค์ แสวงการ)

Witness 21/26 and a member of the Senate.

Khajornsak Sriwirat(ขจรศักดิ์ ศรีวิราช)

Witness 22/26 and former Deputy Chief Executive of the Phayao Provincial Administrative Organization.

Thammanat Prompow(ธรรมนัส พรหมเผ่า)

The leader of the Kla Dharma Party and son-in-law of Khajornsak Sriwirat.

Law

Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators 2018(พ.ร.ป.ว่าด้วยการได้มาซึ่งส.ว. พ.ศ. 2561)

The law under which 427 individuals were investigated for violations during the Senate election.

Place

Phayao(พะเยา)ℹ️

The location of the Provincial Administrative Organization where Khajornsak Sriwirat served as Deputy Chief Executive.

Khon Kaen(ขอนแก่น)ℹ️

The location of the court and the Teachers Savings Cooperative involved in Ekarat Changlao's embezzlement case.