Investigation into vote-rigging accusations urged to be accelerated by EC
A group of reserve senators in the country have accused the Election Commission (EC) of delaying an investigation into alleged vote-rigging in the 2024 Senate election. The group, led by reserve senator Akarawat Phongthanachalitkul, visited the EC's headquarters to demand an explanation for the hold-up.
Akarawat stated that the EC's sluggish response is causing damage to the nation. He questioned why the commission has not forwarded its findings to the court, and why a group of senators calling themselves "independent" have not pushed for the removal of the 136 senators under investigation.
The EC's chairman, Itthiporn Boonpracong, stated that the preliminary probe was allotted up to 60 days, followed by a 90-day review by a sub-committee, with the main committee expected to reach a final decision within 90 days of receiving the sub-committee's findings. However, the group of senators argue that the investigation has taken much longer than this, and they need to know why.
Mr. Itthiporn assured that legal proceedings are conducted strictly in accordance with regulations, free from any external pressure. He also clarified that the eight-month maximum investigation period mentioned earlier does not guarantee the case will take that long without a valid reason.
Activist Srisuwan Janya submitted a petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission against nine senators who allegedly pressured 21 others into signing a petition seeking a Constitutional Court order to disqualify the 136 senators under suspicion. This move followed revelations from two of the 21 senators, who said they had never been part of the move and that their signatures were forged.
The EC is reportedly implicating 136 senators in alleged election fraud. If necessary, cases can be completed faster than the prescribed timeframe, according to the EC. However, the group of senators argue that the delay could be considered as complicity with the accused senators in violating Section 113 of the constitution, which prohibits senators from favoring or allowing themselves to be influenced by political parties or groups.
It is important to note that there is no direct information in the available data specifically about the delay in the investigation by the EC into alleged vote-rigging in the 2024 Senate election or the current status of that case. More specific or updated sources directly related to the Election Commission and the 2024 Senate election would be needed to provide an accurate and comprehensive answer.
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