The National Anti-Corruption Commission has found former Election Commission secretary-general, Nat Laosisawakul, negligent over the late arrival of 1,542 advance votes from Thai citizens in New Zealand prior to the March 24, 2019 election.
It resulted in these people’s ballots not being counted.
NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said yesterday that a committee had investigated Mr Nat and two Foreign Ministry officials for neglect of duty in failing to ensure that 1,542 advance ballot papers in a diplomatic pouch sent by the Thai embassy in Wellington on a Thai Airways flight were collected and counted on March 23, 2019, despite knowing the pouch had arrived that day.
As a result, the Election Commission decided that the 1,542 ballots could not be included in the tally because they arrived too late, under Section 114 of the MP Election Act (2018).
The committee found that Mr Nat, whose job included overseeing advance voting from abroad, was informed on March 22, 2019 that the diplomatic bag from the Thai embassy might not arrive in time on March 23 due to problems.
He was informed by officials under him several times that the diplomatic bag might arrive late. However, Mr Nat did not take any action to find a solution or report the problem to his superiors.
When the diplomatic bag did arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on March 23 at 8.50pm, Mr Nat was informed but he did not order its collection, nor did he inform his superiors about the bag’s late arrival or find a way to deal with the problem.
The bag was picked up on March 24, and delivered to the Election Commission the following day.
This resulted in the commission deciding that the 1,542 advance votes could not be counted.
Mr Niwatchai said Mr Nat, as a result, had committed a breach of discipline, causing serious damage to the Election Commission.
Both Foreign Ministry officials also accused of negligence were let off without further action.
Mr Nat, however, maintains his innocence and says it was a technical glitch that was to blame.
Nat: ‘Failed to take any action’