PUBLISHED: 6 Apr 2024 at 05: 24
After finding him ineligible to run for a House seat, the Election Commission (EC ) has decided to file a lawsuit against former Move Forward Party ( MFP ) MP for Rayong Nakhonchai Khunnarong.
The EC stated in its statement that the company had concluded its investigation into Mr. Nakhonchai’s registration and that he had contested the general election next month despite knowing he had been barred from running.
Mr. Nakhonchai admitted to having served an 18-month sentence in prison and was convicted of a robbery case and had already resigned as an MP in earlier August of last year. To fill the vacancy, the EC conducted a by-election on September 10 and launched a sensor.
Running in a general election without knowing whether a member is eligible can also be regarded as a crime in contravention of Segment 151 of the MP election laws. According to Section 420 of the Civil and Commercial Code, he or she may be held accountable for any charges incurred during that period.
The polling place announced that it would prosecute Mr. Nakhonchai and pay him for the costs of the by-election.
The EC even rejected Mr Nakhonchai’s say that he benefited from the 2007 rules on treatment of former violators, which was enacted to mark the 80th commemoration of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s day.
According to the EC, while the rules deems him while not having been imprisoned, it does not invalidate a court ruling.
After she was disqualified from holding the position two years ago, the Ratchaburi Provincial Court ordered former MP Pareena Kraikupt to give the EC a sum of 7.6 million ringgit to cover the costs of organizing a by-election to get her successor.
Following Ms. Pareena’s disqualification by the Supreme Court over an ethics violation, the court ruled on March 11 that the former Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ) MP was required to pay the EC 7.6 million baht plus interests as it needed to hold another election on May 21, 2022.
The judge will seize the property listed under her label to support the payment if the sum is not paid to the EC within 30 times of the decision. If she disobeys the attempt, she runs the risk of being detained and put in jail.