Irregularities in Amnat Charoen Senators' Careers and Ties

Khaosod•Politics•17d ago

Reader Briefing

Yingcheep Achhanond and iLaw expose discrepancies in the professional histories and staff appointments of senators from Amnat Charoen.

•Yingcheep Achhanond questioned the accuracy of Senator Somphan Phalasak's claims regarding his noodle business history.
•Investigations by iLaw revealed a pattern of 'cross-hiring' where senators appointed relatives of other senators as assistants.
•The event was organized by the Opposition Whip led by Parit Wacharasindhu on August 9, 2026, at the Parliament.

Overview

•On August 9, 2026, the Opposition Whip led by Parit Wacharasindhu held an activity at the Parliament to scrutinize evidence regarding Senator selection in Region 4.
•Yingcheep Achhanond stated that Senator Somphan Phalasak claimed 12 years of experience selling chicken noodles, but evidence suggested the location was previously a fitness center and later sold fish noodles.
•Yingcheep Achhanond used Google Street View and Facebook to find contradictions in the business types claimed by Senator Somphan Phalasak between 2020 and 2023.
•Yingcheep Achhanond expressed suspicion that senators may be appointing people who voted for them as assistants or arranging cross-hiring for others.
•iLaw revealed that Senator Somthop Thiraphan appointed Saharat Kongma (son of Senator Daeng Kongma) and Nattaphong Phalasak (son of Senator Somphan Phalasak) as assistants.
•Senator Suwit Champanon appointed Bunruam Thobuddee, the maternal grandmother of the grandchild of Suksomruay Wantaneekul, as a staff member.
•iLaw found that Senator Daeng Kongma appointed Phaitoon Khankaew, the husband of Senator Ploenjit Khankaew, as an expert.
•It was discovered that Kampon Supapheng, a Senator from Phetchaburi, serves as an assistant to another senator despite regulations allowing only one assistant per senator.

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Key Entities

Person

Yingcheep Achhanond(ยิ่งชีพ อัชฌานนท์)

Director of the Internet Law project (iLaw).

Somphan Phalasak(สมพาน พละศักดิ์)

Senator from Amnat Charoen.

Daeng Kongma(แดง กองมา)

Senator from Amnat Charoen.

Parit Wacharasindhu(พริษฐ์ วัชรสินธุ)ℹ️

List MP of the People's Party and leader of the Opposition Whip.

Panida Mongkolsawat(พนิดา มงคลสวัสดิ์)

Samut Prakan MP of the People's Party.

Bunyanuch Matthujak(บุณยนุช มัทธุจักร)

Academic from the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University.

Purawit Wattanasuk(ปุรวิชญ์ วัฒนสุข)

Academic from the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University.

Siripol Ruangboon(ศิริพล เรืองบุญ)

Member of the Municipal Council who applied in the Bhumjaithai Mueang Amnat group.

Chada Thaiseth(ชาดา ไทยเศรษฐ์)ℹ️

List MP of the Bhumjaithai Party.

Anan Nirapha(อนันต์ นิรภา)

Applicant for Municipal Council member under the Bhumjaithai Kham name.

Prachuap Thongdee(ประจวบ ทองดี)

President of the Subdistrict Administrative Organization.

Suksomruay Wantaneekul(สุขรสมรวย วันทนีย์กุล)

Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.

Suwit Champanon(สุวิทย์ จำปานนท์)

Senator from Amnat Charoen.

Somthop Thiraphan(สมทบ ถิระพันธุ์)

Senator from Amnat Charoen.

Saharat Kongma(สหรัถ กองมา)

Son of Senator Daeng Kongma and assistant to Senator Somthop Thiraphan.

Nattaphong Phalasak(ณัฐพงศ์ พละศักดิ์)

Son of Senator Somphan Phalasak and assistant to Senator Somthop Thiraphan.

Sawai Champanon(ไสว จำปานนท์)

Expert appointed by Senator Somphan Phalasak.

Bunruam Thobuddee(บุญร่วม โทบุดดี)

Staff member appointed by Senator Suwit Champanon.

Phaitoon Khankaew(ไพฑูรย์ ขันแก้ว)

Husband of Senator Ploenjit Khankaew and expert appointed by Senator Daeng Kongma.

Ploenjit Khankaew(เพลินจิตร ขันแก้ว)

Senator from Amnat Charoen.

Kampon Supapheng(กัมพล สุภาเพ่ง)

Senator from Phetchaburi who serves as an assistant to another senator.

Suchart Seehamat(สุชาติ สีหามาตย์)

Assistant who posted support for Suksomruay Wantaneekul and Bhumjaithai MPs in Amnat Charoen.

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

Political party associated with Parit Wacharasindhu and Panida Mongkolsawat.

Internet Law Project (iLaw)(อินเทอร์เน็ตเพื่อกฎหมายประชาชน (ไอลอว์))

Organization that investigates and exposes irregularities in Senator selection.

Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️

University where academics Bunyanuch Matthujak and Purawit Wattanasuk are affiliated.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

Political party associated with Chada Thaiseth.

Place

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️

The location where the opposition activity was held.

Amnat Charoen(อำนาจเจริญ)ℹ️

Province from which several scrutinized senators originate.

Phetchaburi(เพชรบุรี)ℹ️

Province from which Senator Kampon Supapheng originates.