BANGKOK (ANN/THE NATION) – Some unsuccessful Thai senatorial candidates, led by former assistant National Police chief Pol Lt-General Khamrob Panyakaew, have lodged a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) against seven Election Commission (EC) members and its secretary-general.
They accuse them of failing to ensure a fair and transparent election process.
Their action follows EC secretary-general Sawang Boonmee’s announcement that the EC had voted 5:2 to endorse the election of 200 new senators. Khamrob asserted that he and fellow candidates believe the electoral process was marred by irregularities, prompting them to escalate their concerns to the CSD without delay.
Sawang defended the EC’s decision, stating that no substantial evidence of fraud implicating any of the 200 elected senators had been uncovered by Wednesday. He acknowledged that investigations into over 40 cases of alleged collusion involving winners are ongoing, with the EC collaborating with law enforcement and other agencies to gather necessary evidence.
Khamrob criticised Sawang’s announcement as proof of electoral fraud, arguing that rushing to endorse the winners was premature and undermined the integrity of the electoral process.
