Past EC members imprisoned for election misconduct

MGR Online•Politics•19h ago

Reader Briefing

Former Election Commission members were sentenced to four years in prison for misconduct during the 2006 election cycle.

•The Criminal Court sentenced Pol.Gen. Wasana Permlap, Parinya Nakchattri, and Weerachai Naewboonnian to 4 years in prison without suspension.
•The misconduct occurred during the election period surrounding April 2, 2006.
•The court found the EC members managed elections in an unfair manner that did not reflect true democracy.
•The three members were stripped of their voting rights for 10 years.

Overview

•Pol.Gen. Wasana Permlap served as the Chairman of the Election Commission from December 22, 2002, to July 25, 2006.
•Thavorn Senneiam from the Democrat Party filed a lawsuit alleging that the Election Commission performed their duties improperly.
•The Criminal Court ruled that the Election Commission lacked legal authority to order new elections in 38 constituencies across 15 provinces on April 23, 2006.
•The Election Commission allowed Thai Rak Thai Party candidates to retain their original number 2, creating an unfair disadvantage for new candidates.
•The Election Commission issued a circular on April 10, 2006, allowing candidates to apply in multiple constituencies, violating Section 108 of the Constitution.
•Pol.Gen. Wasana Permlap, Parinya Nakchattri, and Weerachai Naewboonnian lost their positions as EC members immediately upon the court's verdict.
•The three EC members signed their resignation letters while being held at the Bangkok Special Prison.
•The case serves as a historical lesson that Election Commission members are not above the law and remain subject to legal scrutiny.

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Key Entities

Person

Pol.Gen. Wasana Permlap(พล.ต.อ.วาสนา เพิ่มลาภ)

Chairman of the Election Commission from December 22, 2002, to July 25, 2006, who was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Parinya Nakchattri(ปริญญา นาคฉัตรีย์)

Election Commission member who was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Weerachai Naewboonnian(วีระชัย แนวบุญเนียร)

Election Commission member and former Governor of Chiang Mai who was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin Shinawatra(พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ชินวัตร)

The Prime Minister during a period of intense political conflict in 2006.

Thavorn Senneiam(ถาวร เสนเนียม)

A member of the Democrat Party who sued the Election Commission for misconduct.

Jarun Buranaphan Sri(จรัล บูรณพันธ์ศรี)

One of the five EC members associated with the Democrat Party.

Gen. Jarupat Ruangsuwan(พล.อ.จารุภัทร เรืองสุวรรณ)

An EC member associated with the Thai Rak Thai Party who resigned to avoid legal issues.

Yaowapha Wongsawat(เยาวภา วงศ์สวัสดิ์)

Sister of Thaksin Shinawatra and close associate of Pol.Gen. Wasana Permlap and Weerachai Naewboonnian.

Sanaoh Thienthong(เสนาะ เทียนทอง)

Former key leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party and close associate of Weerachai Naewboonnian.

Organization

Election Commission(กกต.)

The independent body responsible for organizing elections in Thailand.

Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)

An opposition party that boycotted the April 2, 2006 election.

Thai Rak Thai Party(พรรคไทยรักไทย)ℹ️

A political party whose candidates were granted advantages by the Election Commission.

Criminal Court(ศาลอาญา)

The court that sentenced the three Election Commission members to prison.

Law

Organic Law on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives and Senators 1998(พ.ร.ป.ว่าด้วยการเลือกตั้งสมาชิกสภาผู้แทนราษฎร และสมาชิกวุฒิสภา พ.ศ.2541)

The law regarding election procedures that the EC was found to have violated.

Constitution Section 108(รัฐธรรมนูญ มาตรา 108)

The constitutional provision stating that a candidate can apply in only one constituency.

Place

Bangkok Special Prison(เรือนจำพิเศษกรุงเทพฯ)

The facility where the three EC members were detained and signed their resignations.