Official from Election Commission Accused of Demanding Bribe

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Thaitichett Nuchanat, a commissioner at the Election Commission of Thailand, finds himself embroiled in a bribery scandal, with allegations dating back to March of last year.

According to a report filed by the then-head of the Office of the Auditor General, Thaitichett and an official from the State Audit Office reportedly offered a bribe in exchange for a promotion for the latter. However, the auditor-general sensibly rejected the offer.

The news stirred quite a bit of commotion, leading to a petition from a group of senators to investigate the matter. EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong acknowledged the allegations but opted against forming a special committee to delve deeper. Instead, he asserted that existing mechanisms are more than adequate to handle such cases, emphasizing the importance of maintaining neutrality.

Critics argue that the EC should take a more proactive approach to ensure its credibility and handle matters such as these internally. Senator Kamrob Panyakaew said, "If the EC looks into this matter, it would strengthen its reputation and credibility for future elections-related cases."

Meanwhile, the audit official implicated in the bribery case was looked into, subsequently dismissed, and now appeals the decision. The case was handed over to a prosecutor, who later referred it to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) due to the alleged offense taking place while the individuals in question were still in office.

All in all, the case is now under the NACC's jurisdiction, though specific details on the investigation's progress remain scarce.

Enrichment Data:The current status of the bribery allegation against Thaitichet Nuchanat, a commissioner of the Election Commission in Thailand, involves ongoing investigations and legal proceedings. Here is a snapshot of the situation:

Allegation Details: The allegations came to light when a former auditor-general filed a police report in March of the previous year. According to the report, Thaitichet and an official from the State Audit Office allegedly offered a bribe to the auditor-general in exchange for a promotion for the latter. The auditor-general reportedly rejected the bribe offer[1][2][3].
Response from the Election Commission (EC): The EC acknowledged the allegations but decided against forming a special committee to investigate. Instead, they emphasized that existing mechanisms are in place to handle such matters, and maintaining neutrality is crucial. The EC chairman, Ittiporn Boonpracong, received a petition from senators to investigate but chose not to act independently[1][3].
Involvement of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC): The case was transferred to the NACC, as the alleged offense occurred while the individuals involved were in office. This indicates that the investigation is now under the purview of the NACC, although specific updates on its progress are not detailed in the available information[1][3].
Legal Proceedings: The audit official involved in the bribery was investigated, dismissed, and is currently appealing the dismissal. The case involving this official was transferred to a prosecutor who subsequently referred it to the NACC for further investigation[3].
Despite some critics urging for a more proactive approach, the Election Commission of Thailand opted against forming a special committee to delve deeper into the bribery allegations against Commissioner Thaitichett Nuchanat, as they believe existing mechanisms are adequate.
The audit official involved in the bribery scandal with Thaitichett has been dismissed, is currently appealing the decision, and the case has been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission due to the alleged offense taking place during their period of office.
The bribery allegations against Thaitichett and the audit official, first reported in March of last year by the then-head of the Office of the Auditor General, involve ongoing investigations and legal proceedings, with specific updates on the progress of the investigation not detailed in the available information.
Several senators have petitioned for a thorough investigation into the bribery scandal involving Thaitichett Nuchanat and the audit official, with one senator suggesting that an internal investigation by the EC would strengthen its reputation and credibility for future elections-related cases.