Investigation into Senator Vote-Rigging Safe Houses

Thairath•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

An investigation by the Election Commission and DSI uncovered a systematic operation to control Senator candidates through safe houses and intimidation.

•The Election Commission and DSI investigated safe houses used to control voters before the national Senator election on June 26, 2024.
•Safe houses were established within a 30–100 kilometer radius of IMPACT Forum Muang Thong Thani, covering Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, and Pathum Thani.
•Candidates were forced to hand over mobile phones and copy pre-determined vote lists into their SW.3 introduction books.
•Some candidates were allegedly forced to sign undated resignation letters from the Senate after meeting a minister-level official.

Overview

•An investigation report detailed activities occurring prior to the national Senator election on June 26, 2024.
•The Election Commission and DSI identified safe houses in Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, and private company locations.
•At Hotel Ko and Resort Kho in Ayutthaya, mobile phones were seized and candidates were ordered to copy vote lists into SW.3 books.
•In Nakhon Nayok at Hotel Wo, candidates were transported by golf carts to a large house where tutors supervised the copying of vote lists.
•At Hotel Tho in Pathum Thani, team members managed candidates from Nong Bua Lamphu, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Phuket.
•Candidates at Hotel Pho in Pathum Thani were reportedly taken to meet a minister-level official at a ministry to be forced to sign undated resignation letters.
•At Company So, a private company, candidates from Lamphun were supervised by leaders in copying vote lists.
•Tutors threatened candidates that the system could track whether votes matched the list, stating that candidates must follow the list or face unknown consequences.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Tutor

"Follow the list, otherwise I don't know what will happen."

ทำตามโพย ไม่งั้นไม่รู้จะเกิดอะไรขึ้น

Key Entities

Organization

Election Commission(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง)

The organization leading the investigation into the Senator election process.

Department of Special Investigation(กรมสอบสวนคดีพิเศษ)ℹ️

The organization working with the Election Commission to investigate safe house operations.

Central Investigation and Inquiry Committee No. 26(คณะกรรมการสืบสวนและไต่สวน ส่วนกลาง คณะที่ 26)

The specific committee that produced the report on the safe house operations.

Company So(บริษัท ศ.)

A private company used as a meeting point for candidates from Lamphun.

Place

IMPACT Forum Muang Thong Thani(ศูนย์การประชุมอิมแพ็คฟอรั่ม เมืองทองธานี)

The central location around which safe houses were distributed.

Ayutthaya(อยุธยา)

A province where safe houses, including Hotel Ko and Resort Kho, were located.

Nakhon Nayok(นครนายก)ℹ️

A province where a safe house at Hotel Wo was operated.

Pathum Thani(ปทุมธานี)ℹ️

A province where safe houses at Hotel Tho and Hotel Pho were operated.

Person

Mr. S(นายส.)

An individual involved in operations at Hotel Ko and coordinating candidates from Nong Bua Lamphu and Phuket.

Mr. W(นายว.)

An individual involved in operations at Hotel Ko.

Mr. So(นายศ.)

An individual involved in operations at Hotel Ko.

Mr. O(นายอ.)ℹ️

A current Senator who was involved in operations at Resort Kho.

Mr. Ch(นายช.)

An individual involved in operations at Hotel Wo in Nakhon Nayok.

Mr. P(นายภ.)

An individual involved in operations at Hotel Wo in Nakhon Nayok.

Ms. W(นางสาวว)

An individual coordinating candidates from Nakhon Si Thammarat at Hotel Tho.