Former Senate contenders call for expedited EC investigation
The ongoing investigation into alleged collusion in the Thai Senate election has seen a new development with a former Senate candidate, Pol Lt Gen Kamrob Panyakaew, urging the Election Commission (EC) to expedite the process.
On yesterday, Pol Lt Gen Panyakaew, who led a group in submitting a petition to the EC, expressed concern about the delay in the investigation. He suggested that the delay might be linked to the Senate's upcoming vote for members of independent organizations, including the EC itself.
The EC's initial investigation concluded with recommendations for legal action against 229 individuals, including 138 senators and party executives, for violating election laws through fraudulent practices. However, the EC's review process has experienced delays, particularly in the phase where the Secretary-General must provide recommendations.
The probe is scheduled to be finalised before Aug 12, according to Pol Lt Gen Panyakaew. He emphasized that the EC is required to comply with the law like anyone else and demanded the probe be finalised before the deadline.
The investigation, being conducted by the EC and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), has been active and extensive. The DSI has summoned 1,200 Senate election candidates and witnesses to gather more evidence regarding vote-buying and money laundering linked to the election fraud.
The delay and contentious process appear linked to the timing of upcoming Senate votes that could affect independent organizations and political interests. The ongoing crisis contributes to a broader political instability in Thailand amid 2025, described as a political crisis stemming from these corruption scandals and the strained legitimacy of elected officials.
The case is currently under review by the EC Secretariat Office, which is the second stage of the investigative process. The EC has not yet commented on Pol Lt Gen Panyakaew's complaint.
- The delay in the EC's review process, particularly in the phase where the Secretary-General must provide recommendations, has raised concerns from former Senate candidate Pol Lt Gen Kamrob Panyakaew, who links it to the Senate's upcoming vote for members of independent organizations, including the EC itself, hinting at possible politics influencing policy-and-legislation.
- Amid this complex web of politics, the ongoing crisis in Thailand, characterized by corruption scandals and the strained legitimacy of elected officials, has added to the general-news discourse, with Pol Lt Gen Panyakaew's complaint about the delay in the investigation being the latest development.
