Bangkok: The Election Commission has dismissed allegations 1 and 2 related to fraud in the Senate election, citing unreliable witness testimony and the absence of irregularities in the financial trail. Mr. Narong Klanwarin, Chairman of the Election Commission, explained that witness code 16/26 lacked credibility, rendering their testimony inadmissible for the accused in these allegations.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Narong highlighted that the credibility of some witnesses was questionable, especially those who had retracted their testimonies. Notably, witness code 16/26 had a previous conviction, serving 11 years in prison for a major financial crime, and was currently disqualified from politics due to an ethics case. These factors contributed to the decision not to accept this witness's evidence as reliable.
Mr. Narong emphasized his methodical approach to witness evaluation, noting that his judicial background informed his careful consideration of witnesses' political affiliations and consistency of testimonies. He stressed that the investigation found no irregularities in the financial transactions of the accused, which, along with ambiguous telephone records, did not support the allegations.
The investigation into a meeting at the Pullman Hotel post-election also failed to provide concrete evidence of wrongdoing by Mr. Newin Chidchob and Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul. Though witnesses mentioned their presence, no substantial evidence emerged to confirm any illicit activity.
Mr. Narong stated that the inadmissibility of Allegation 1 affected Allegation 2, which pertained to receiving electoral assistance. The evidence did not support claims that the accused received such assistance. However, the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) is considering additional charges against a group of 26 senators, related to voter influence and vote manipulation, which may lead to revocation of electoral rights and possible criminal charges.
Source: Thai News Agency