Bangkok: The court sentenced Saranyu Saranketu to 8 months in prison for the proxy voting case, but granted him temporary release pending appeal. The Supreme Court's Political Division sentenced Saranyu Saranketu, a Pheu Thai Party MP, to eight months in prison for a case of proxy voting. The court granted him temporary release pending appeal.
According to Thai News Agency, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions delivered its verdict in case number AM 14/2568, in which the Attorney General filed charges against Mr. Saranyawut Saranketu, then a former Pheu Thai Party MP, for proxy voting on September 14th.
On September 20, 2013, the House of Representatives held a special session to consider the draft Act authorizing the Ministry of Finance to borrow money for the development of transportation infrastructure, Sections 3, 4, and 5. The defendant traveled to Sukhothai Province and was not present at the House of Representatives meeting. The defendant entrusted their electronic identification card to another Member of Parliament, who used the defendant's electronic identification card to register their presence and cast votes on behalf of the defendant during the consideration and voting of the said Act. This resulted in fraudulent and distorted voting in the House of Representatives, violating the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2550 (2007), and the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives, B.E. 2551 (2008). The prosecution requests punishment under the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption, B.E. 2542 (1999), Section 123/1, and the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption, B.E. 2561 (2018), Sections 172 and 192.
The court, having considered the evidence gathered during the investigation and the National Anti-Corruption Commission's (NACC) report, determined whether the defendant committed the offenses as charged. The facts established that the defendant willingly allowed their electronic identification card to be in the possession of another Member of Parliament (MP), enabling that MP to use the card to identify themselves and vote on their behalf during the consideration and voting on the draft bill authorizing the Ministry of Finance to borrow money for the development of transportation infrastructure. This resulted in proxy voting, an act contrary to the provisions and spirit of the Constitution, violating the principles of voting as stipulated in Section 126, paragraph three of the Constitution, contradicting the fundamental principles of being an MP, and violating the principle of integrity sworn by Members of Parliament under Section 123. Therefore, it constitutes abuse of power and corruption in the performanc e of official duties.
The defendant's actions constituted abuse of power in the position or duty of a Member of Parliament, a political officeholder and government official, causing harm to the public, or acting corruptly, which is an offense under Section 123/1 of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption B.E. 2542 (1999). This resulted in serious damage and undermined public trust in the legislative body. The circumstances of the case are therefore serious.
The court ruled that the defendant was guilty under Section 123/1 of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption B.E. 2542 (1999) and sentenced him to one year in prison. However, the defendant's confession during the evidence examination phase was considered somewhat beneficial to the proceedings, and thus constituted mitigating circumstances. The sentence was reduced by one-third under Section 78 of the Criminal Code, resulting in an 8-month prison term.
Following the verdict, the defendant filed a bail application. After consideration, the court granted bail to the defendant pending the appeal process.