EC to probe claims that Tankhun flouted election laws
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The Bangkok Election Commission has decided to conduct an investigation into Democrat MP-elect Tankhun Jitt-itsara, following accusations he violated election laws while campaigning for the Don Muang by-election.
Supoj Paibul, chairman of the Bangkok EC, said Bangkok election director Weera Yiprae had informed the EC’s head office that the Bangkok EC would investigate Tankhun following complaints by two voters, which were submitted to the EC by failed Pheu Thai candidate Yuranunt Pamornmontri.
The two voters allege that Tankhun tried to influence people to vote for him by putting up posters demonstrating road modifications allegedly made by the Democrats.
The complaint stated that the posters had appeared a few days before the election, while Tankhun was campaigning at the Romsai Ngarm and Pattana Taland Klang communities.
Yuranunt said he was not directly responsible for making the complaint and was only filing it on behalf of the two voters, who had sent him the evidence.
“They sent me a photo and all the evidence claiming that there were posters about the Democrat Party’s road modifications in the two communities – two to three days before the election,” said Yuranunt. “All I did was to file the petition I received from the local people. Basically I did my duty,” he added.
Tankhun has flatly denied any wrongdoing.
“I still don’t know [what] they are accusing me of. All my posters were from the party,” said Tankhun.
“I hear that they are saying I used fake posters. If he [Yuranunt] accuses me of anything disreputable, I will sue him.”
Supoj said a subcommittee would try to finish the probe in 20 days. However, the panel can extend the probe deadline twice, each time for 15 days, if it needs to carry out further investigations.
Supoj said it would be up to the EC whether it intended to endorse Tankhun’s victory before the subcommittee finished its probe into the allegations.
However, even if Tankhun was endorsed, the EC could later ask the court to disqualify him, if he was found to be in violation of election laws.
