Former Pheu Thai MP sentenced to 8 months for voting proxy

Matichon•Politics•8h ago

Reader Briefing

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions sentenced former MP Saranyawut Saranket to 8 months in prison for allowing another member to vote on his behalf.

•Saranyawut Saranket, a former Pheu Thai MP for Uttaradit, was sentenced to 8 months in prison.
•The crime occurred on September 20, 2013, when Saranyawut Saranket allowed another MP to use his electronic card to vote while he was in Sukhothai.
•The court found the action violated the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007 and House of Representatives regulations.
•The sentence was reduced from one year to 8 months because the defendant's admission during the evidence examination was useful to the trial.

Overview

•On September 14, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions delivered the judgment in case No. Om14/2025.
•The case involved Saranyawut Saranket, a former MP for Uttaradit from the Pheu Thai Party, who was accused by the Attorney General of voting proxy.
•On September 20, 2013, Saranyawut Saranket traveled to Sukhothai and left his electronic ID card for another MP to use for voting on a draft Act regarding Ministry of Finance loan authority.
•The Supreme Court ruled that Saranyawut Saranket must have consented to the act because electronic cards are clearly identified and the voting process requires multiple steps.
•The court rejected Saranyawut Saranket's claims that he was framed by the NACC due to his criticism of General Prawit Wongsuwan.
•The court stated the action was a serious breach of duty that damaged public confidence in the legislative body.
•Saranyawut Saranket was sentenced to 1 year in prison, reduced to 8 months, and was granted temporary release pending an appeal.

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Key Entities

Person

Saranyawut Saranket(ศรัณย์วุฒิ ศรัณเกตุ)

A former MP for Uttaradit from the Pheu Thai Party sentenced to prison for voting proxy.

Prawit Wongsuwan(ประวิทย์ วงษ์สุวรรณ)ℹ️

Leader of the Palang Pracharath Party who was mentioned in Saranyawut Saranket's claim of being framed.

Sermsri(เสริมศรี)

A person Saranyawut Saranket claimed kept his electronic card to reserve seats.

Saifon(สายฝน)

A superior of the staff managing the meeting who testified regarding the rules of the meeting room.

Narissorn(นริศร)

A person who filed a report at Sakon Nakhon Police Station claiming Saranyawut Saranket was not involved in his own proxy voting case.

Organization

Pheu Thai Party(พรรคเพื่อไทย)ℹ️

The political party that Saranyawut Saranket belonged to.

Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions(ศาลฎีกาแผนกคดีอาญาของผู้ดำรงตำแหน่งทางการเมือง)

The judicial body that delivered the verdict against Saranyawut Saranket.

Attorney General(อัยการสูงสุด)ℹ️

The prosecutor who filed the lawsuit against Saranyawut Saranket.

National Anti-Corruption Commission(คณะกรรมการ ป.ป.ช.)

The agency that conducted the investigation into the voting proxy case.

Palang Pracharath Party(พรรคพลังประชารัฐ)ℹ️

The party led by General Prawit Wongsuwan.

Place

Uttaradit(อุตรดิตถ์)ℹ️

The province where Saranyawut Saranket served as a constituency MP.

Sukhothai(สุโขทัย)

The province Saranyawut Saranket visited while another person voted on his behalf.

Law

Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2007(รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พุทธศักราช 2550)

The constitution cited by the court as being violated by the proxy voting act.

Organic Act on Anti-Corruption 1999(พรป.ว่าด้วยการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริต พ.ศ. 2542)

The law under which Saranyawut Saranket was found guilty, specifically Section 123/1.