Boonjong attends vote-buying hearing
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The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders conducted its first hearing Monday in a case in which opposition Bhum Jai Thai executive Boonjong Wongtrairat is accused of buying votes ahead of a December 2010 by-election that he won.
The case could result in the party being dissolved if Boonjong is found guilty.
Six prosecution witnesses testified Monday.
One, a local Election Commission official, said authorities investigated after a complaint by Boonjong’s rival Apicha Lertpatcharakamol of the Pheu Thai Party.
It was found that most witnesses said they did not see Boonjong at a November 2010 seminar of Nakhon Ratchasima community leaders in Rayong that the politician was accused of sponsoring. Some 300 eligible voters from the northeastern province attended the seminar.
The Nation
