EC checking into East Water donation case
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The Election Commission has been checking into the East Water donation meant for flood victims but given through the Democrat Party, EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said on Thursday.
The complaint against the Democrats was filed in January by former senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana and EC member Sodsri Satayathum was in charge of the case, he said.
“There is no deadline for the completion of the investigation and work has been progressing,” he said, denying an undue delay.
He said neither the EC nor he, in his capacity as the political party registrar, had reached a conclusion on the case.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, it is still unclear whether the EC or the political party registrar will have the final say on the case, he said.
The outcome will hinge on the investigative report establishing whether the case falls under campaigning offences or under the political parties act, he said.
In his complaint, Ruangkrai said he suspected the Bt1 million donation was actually intended for the Democrat campaigning but was disguised as flood relief in order to skirt around the ban on accepting campaign contributions from statecontrol enterprises.
Apichart said that in his personal opinion, a political party or an elected representative is entitled to solicit public donations intended for flood relief or other natural calamities.
