2 Klatham Party candidates axed over past convictions
The Supreme Court has revoked the eligibility of two candidates of the Klatham Party candidates to contest the Feb 8 general election due to past criminal convictions.
The first case involved Kongkiat Katesombat, who had applied to run in Constituency 7 of Nakhon Si Thammarat province
The court upheld a decision by the Election Commission (EC) to disqualify Kongkiat, who was found to have been convicted of theft by the Surat Thani Provincial Court in 1999, with the case being finalised.
Under the election law, individuals whose criminal cases have been finalised and who fall within prohibited categories are barred from standing for elections.
The EC disqualified Kongkiat as a candidate, and Kongkiat appealed the EC’s ruling to the Supreme Court. However, the top court found the commission’s decision lawful and justified.
As a result of the ruling, any votes cast for Kongkiat during advance voting will be deemed invalid.
He also faces a separate criminal charge for knowingly applying to contest an election despite being legally unqualified.
The offence carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both, as well as the revocation of election rights for 20 years.
Kongkiat previously won a by-election in Constituency 7 in April last year. Following the ruling, his salary and allowances received as an MP may have to be returned to the state, and he could face civil action to recover the costs of the by-election and a criminal charge.
The other case involved Chalong Saengratmekhin, a Klatham Party candidate who applied to run in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Constituency 13.
The EC found that Chalong had been convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for violating forest reserve and forestry laws.
He was released from prison on Dec 6, 2017, and less than 10 years had lapsed since his release.
Under the law, individuals who have served prison sentences and have not completed a 10-year exclusion period by election day, except in cases involving negligence or minor offences, are prohibited from contesting polls.
Chalong did not object to the EC’s decision and admitted that he was released from jail less than 10 years ago as he appeared before the court.
The court ruled that he remained ineligible to stand in the upcoming election and withdrew his candidacy.
On Wednesday, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruled that Chaithip Kamolpantip, a former Ratchaburi MP and current parliamentary candidate for the Klatham Party, committed a serious violation of ethical standards after being found to have engaged in gambling inside the parliament building.
The Klatham Party is led by leader Narumon Pinyosinwat and secretary-general Thamanat Prompow.
Source – Bangkok News
