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Phuket Official Accuses Interior Sec. of Manipulating MP Candidate Lists

Phuket Official Accuses Interior Sec. of Manipulating MP Candidate Lists

MGR Online•Politics•9h ago

Reader Briefing

Discrepancies between a leaked LINE chat purportedly from the Permanent Secretary of Interior and official Election Commission (EC) lists for Phuket MP candidates have sparked controversy and accusations of manipulation.

  • •A Phuket Provincial Information Chief released screenshots of a LINE chat allegedly involving the Permanent Secretary of Interior, suggesting manipulation of MP candidate lists.
  • •The leaked chat lists were found to contain significant discrepancies compared to the official announcements from the Election Commission (EC) for the recent MP elections in Phuket.
  • •Several individuals listed in the chat were not actual candidates, held current government positions, or were serving as senators.
  • •This revelation comes after the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) proposed that the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) investigate the financial transactions of several officials in Phuket, potentially linked to grey businesses.

Overview

  • •A political controversy arose after the Phuket Provincial Information Chief released screenshots of a LINE chat, allegedly from the Permanent Secretary of Interior.
  • •The LINE chat allegedly contained a report on popular vote proportions for MP candidates in Phuket during the recent election, with a message stating 'Help with the blue ones.'
  • •The Ministry of Interior investigated the discrepancies between the leaked LINE chat's candidate list and the official lists from the Election Commission (EC).
  • •Numerous inaccuracies were found, including individuals not actually registered as candidates, who still held government positions or were senators.
  • •For constituency 1, the chat listed Mr. Wisut Rojin for the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, but the EC list shows Mr. Suphachai Silparatsamee for the Chartpattana Party.
  • •Mr. Wisut currently holds the position of Senior District Chief of Thalang, Phuket, and serves as the election director for constituency 1, without having resigned from civil service.
  • •Constituency 2 showed discrepancies for four names listed in the chat compared to the EC announcement.
  • •The significant inaccuracies in the leaked chat have raised suspicions that the information was released to discredit individuals and divert attention, following DOPA's proposal to AMLO to investigate financial trails of Phuket officials linked to grey businesses and extortion.

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Key Quotes

Unknown Participant in LINE Chat
"Help with the blue ones."
ช่วยน้ำเงินด้วย

Key Entities

Person

Phuket Provincial Information Chief(ปลัดจังหวัดภูเก็ต)
The official who released screenshots of a LINE chat allegedly involving the Permanent Secretary of Interior, highlighting discrepancies in MP candidate lists.
Permanent Secretary of Interior(อธิบดีกรมการปกครอง)
The high-ranking official whose LINE chat was allegedly leaked, showing inaccuracies in MP candidate lists for Phuket.
Mr. Rungrueng Thimabut(นายรุ่งเรือง ธิมาบุตร)
The Phuket Provincial Information Chief who publicly revealed the controversial LINE chat messages.
Mr. Wisut Rojin(นายวิสุทธิ์ โรจินทร์)
A listed individual in the leaked LINE chat for MP candidate in Phuket constituency 1, who currently holds a civil service position and is an election director, not a resigned candidate.
Mr. Suphachai Silparatsamee(นายศุภชัย ศิลปะรัศมี)
The officially registered candidate from the Chartpattana Party for MP in Phuket constituency 1, differing from the leaked LINE chat.
Senior District Chief of Thalang, Phuket(ปลัดอาวุโสอำเภอถลาง จังหวัดภูเก็ต)
The current official position held by Mr. Wisut Rojin, who was incorrectly listed as an MP candidate in a leaked LINE chat.
Ms. Nuanchan Samart(น.ส.นวลจันทร์ สามารถ)
A name listed in the leaked LINE chat for MP candidate in Phuket constituency 2, not appearing on the official EC list.
Mr. In Petchhin(นายอินทร์ เพชรหิน)
The officially registered candidate from Chartpattana Party for MP in Phuket constituency 2.
Mr. Nipon Ekvian(นายนิพนธ์ เอกวานิช)
A listed individual in the leaked LINE chat as an MP candidate, who is currently a Senator and not registered for the election.
Mrs. Natthaporn Panitpichatewong(นางณัฐพร ผาณิตพิเชฐวงศ์)
The officially registered candidate from Pheu Thai Party for MP in Phuket constituency 2.
Mr. Awut Nuchet(นายอาวุธ หนูเชต)
A name listed in the leaked LINE chat for MP candidate in Phuket constituency 2, not the officially registered candidate.
Mr. Somchat Somnam(นายสมชาติ สมนาม)
The officially registered candidate from the Democrat Party for MP in Phuket constituency 2.
Mr. Wongsakorn Chanajak(นายวงศกร ชนะกิจ)
A name listed in the leaked LINE chat for MP candidate in Phuket constituency 2, but not found on the official EC announcement.
Mr. Chaiyot Panyawai(นายชัยยศ ปัญญาไวย)
A name listed in the leaked LINE chat for MP candidate in Phuket constituency 3, not the officially registered candidate.
Ms. Sirigates Chuaskul(น.ส.สิริเกศ ฉั่วสกุล)
The officially registered candidate from the Democrat Party for MP in Phuket constituency 3.
Acting Warrant Officer Waipoj Boromnum(ว่าที่ ร.ต.ไวพจน์ บรมหนุ่ม)
A name listed in the leaked LINE chat for MP candidate in Phuket constituency 3, not the officially registered candidate.
Detective Dejachart Aunsorn(ด.ต.เดชาวัตร อุ่นสอน)
The officially registered candidate from Chartpattana Party for MP in Phuket constituency 3.
Mr. Nuthee Thinsakoo(นายนัทธี ถิ่นสาคู)
A name listed in the leaked LINE chat for MP candidate in Phuket constituency 3, not the officially registered candidate.
Mr. Kasem Kahrimkarn(นายเกษม กาหรีมการ)
The officially registered candidate from Thai Pakdee Party for MP in Phuket constituency 3.
Senator(สมาชิกวุฒิสภา)
Individuals holding this position who were incorrectly listed as MP candidates in the leaked LINE chat or were the subject of the political controversy.
Civil Servant(ข้าราชการ)
Individuals holding this position who were incorrectly listed as MP candidates in the leaked LINE chat or were the subject of the political controversy.
Entertainment Business Operators in Patong Beach(ผู้ประกอบการสถานบันเทิงในหาดป่าตอง)
The group of individuals who had previously urged the government to address influential figures and grey businesses operating in their area.

Organization

Department of Provincial Administration(กรมการปกครอง)
The government department that proposed an investigation into financial transactions of officials in Phuket.
Election Commission (EC)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง (กกต.))
The official body responsible for announcing the verified lists of MP candidates.
Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO)(สำนักงานป้องกันและปราบปรามการฟอกเงิน (ปปง.))
The agency that was proposed to investigate financial transactions of Phuket officials.
Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party(พรรค รทสช.)
A political party whose candidate was incorrectly listed in the leaked LINE chat.
Chartpattana Party(พรรคเศรษฐกิจ)
A political party whose candidate was officially registered for MP in Phuket constituency 1, correcting an error in the leaked LINE chat.
Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)
A political party whose registered candidate for MP in Phuket constituency 2 differs from that in the leaked LINE chat.
Pheu Thai Party(พรรคเพื่อไทย)
A political party whose candidate was incorrectly listed in the leaked LINE chat and also had a registered candidate for MP in Phuket constituency 2.
Palang Pracharath Party(พรรคพลังประชารัฐ)
A political party whose candidate was listed in the leaked LINE chat but not found on the official EC announcement for Phuket constituency 2.
Thai Pakdee Party(พรรคไทยภักดี)
A political party whose candidate was officially registered for MP in Phuket constituency 3, differing from the leaked LINE chat.