View Full Version : EC Commissioners sent to jail
July 25th, 2006 11:49 AM Thai time
Three EC commissioners thrown behind bars, losing status
The Criminal Court Tuesday convicted the three election commissioners in malfeasance and jailed them immediately, causing them to automatically lose their status.
The three commissioenrs were found guilty of violating the election law and sentenced to four years in jail.
The court found EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp, EC members Prinya Nakchadtree and Virachai Naewboonnien guilty of mishandling the April 2 election and a subsequent election.
The court declined to suspend the jail term against them.
The huge crowd waiting to hear the verdict at the court erupted in cheers.
The three were led by court officials to be detained inside the cell at the court pending their appeal.
The suit was filed against the three EC commissioners by Democrat deputy secretary-general Thavorn Sennium on April 18.
Thavorn alleged the three with violating the Criminal Code and MPs and Senators Election Act.
The court ruled that Thavorn had no authority to file the criminal charges citing the Criminal Code but the three EC commissioners were found guilty of violating the MPs and Senators Election Act.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009506
It appears the Electoral Commission's very own mob has been disgracing itself yet again.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/25/headlines/headlines_30009507.php
Three EC commissioners get four-year imprisonment
The Criminal Court Tuesday convicted the three election commissioners in malfeasance and sentenced them to four years in jail, causing their status to be in queston.
The three commissioners were found guilty of violating the election law and sentenced to four years in jail.
The court found EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp, EC members Prinya Nakchadtree and Virachai Naewboonnien guilty of mishandling the April 2 election and a subsequent election.
The court declined to suspend the jail term against them.
The huge crowd waiting to hear the verdict at the court erupted in cheers. But EC supporters became dismayed and criticised the court.
The three immediately filed a request to be released on bail before they were led to a detention room inside the court.
The suit was filed against the three EC commissioners by Democrat deputy secretary-general Thavorn Sennium on April 18.
Thavorn alleged the three with violating the Criminal Code and MPs and Senators Election Act.
The court ruled that Thavorn had no authority to file the criminal charges citing the Criminal Code but the three EC commissioners were found guilty of violating the MPs and Senators Election Act.
Anchormen of iTV announced the verdict and said the EC commissioners had lost their status because they had received a jail sentence and had their election rights revoked.
The anchormen said the Constitution made it clear that EC commissioners could not get a jail term and could not have their election rights revoked.
iTV reported that atmosphere at the Criminal Court was rather chaotic as pro-EC people tried to prevent Democrat members from leaving the court.
EC supporters threw water bottles against Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban while he was about to leave the court and hurled abuses against him, causing him to retreat back to the court.
Thavorn was interviewed on iTV that EC commissioners had lost their status because he had objected the commissioners' request to be released on bail.
Thavorn said if the commissioners were released on bail, he would ask the Constitution Court to rule that they had lost their status.
Prinya gave inteview to iTV on phone that he believed the three commissioners' status had not expired yet as the case has not been final by the Supreme Court's verdict.
Earlier, the day, Vasana was seen as becoming angry while walking into the Criminal Court when an anti-EC crowd shouted demand for the EC to resign.
Vasana was seen being restrained by his aides when tried to walk to the crowd.
Finally, the aides ushered Vasana into the court room while the crowd kept on shouting "EC get out".
The Nation
The PM's Secretary-General seemed almost resigned to the decision just before the court case: -
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009504
Oct 15 election to go on: Prommin
PM's Secretary-General Prommin Lertsuridej said Tuesday morning that the October 15 election would have to go on no matter how the Criminal Court would hand down a ruling against the three election commissioners.
"No matter what happens, the government will have to proceed what it has to do to achieve His Majesty's wish and to enforce the decree which sets the new election on October 15," Prommin said.
The Nation
Another last ditch effort: -
Prinya insists three EC commissioners' status still valid
Election commissioner Prinya Nakchudtree insisted that the three EC members have not yet lost their status.
Speaking in phone interview with Nation TV, Prinya said the case against the EC has not been finalised by the Supreme Court yet.
Prinya said he expected the Criminal Court would allow the EC to be released on bail.
Prinya said the three EC would remain to work to comply with His Majesty the King's to see clean and fair election.
He said it would be up to the Constitution Court to decide whether the three EC members had lost their status because the Criminal Court revoked their election rights for ten years.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009509
Anyone who could represent all this legal obfuscation in neat diagrammatic form deserves .....
Council of State says 3 EC members' status no longer valid
The Council of State Tuesday reported to the Cabinet that the three election commissioners have already lost their status following a court ruling against them.
Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee told reporters that Khunying Pornthip Jala, secretary-general of the Council of State informed the Cabinet that the three EC commissioners' status was no longer valid.
Following the interpretation by the Council of State, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra affirmed with reporters that the three EC members had lost their status and the process to select a new EC could begin right away.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009510
Supreme Court wait for Senate speaker's request for starting EC selection
The secretary to the Supreme Court said Tuesday that the court is awaiting a request from caretaker Senate speaker Suchon Chaleekrua before initiating a process to select a new election commission.
Wirat Chinwinijkul, secretary to the Supreme Court, said the Supreme Court could begin the EC selection process if the Suchon sent the court a request.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009517
The Electoral Commissioners have been refused bail: -
EC commissioners sent to Bangkok Remand Prison
The Criminal Court Tuesday refused to grant bail for the three Election Commission members on ground that if they were released, they would cause more damages to the new election.
The three EC commissioners were sent to be detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison.
Their detention automatically causes them to lose their EC status.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009520
Events are getting uglier by the minute. Although I have to say that a far more violent altercation just occurred outside my very own window which ended with a very nasty looking meat knife being brandished. Politics here hasn't quite got to the Taiwan level of healthy debate just yet: -
Fight erupts between supporters, opponents of EC
A protester against the Election Commission was kicked by a supporter of the Election Commission during their confrontation outside the Criminal Court Tuesday afternoon.
The fight took place at around 3 pm while both supporters and protesters against the EC still rallied outside the court to wait for a court decision whether to allow the three EC commissioners to be released on bail.
During the confrontation, a man engaged in a verbal dispute with EC supporters before one of the supporter kicked him down.
Security officials then took both men inside the court building.
While the man, who was kicked down, was being helped into the court building, another woman ran toward him and tried to hit him with her shoe but officials blocked the woman from reaching the man.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009519
EC Commissioners head to jail
Corrections Department has prepared registration documents and cells for three Election Commissioners who were sentenced to four years in prison following rejection from the Criminal Court to grant them bail.
Justice Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary Thongtong Chantarangsu and Corrections Department chief Natthee Jitsawang went to Bangkok Remand Prison to prepare documents and cells for the three convicted EC members; EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp, EC members Prinya Nakchadtree and Virachai Naewboonnien.
The three were found guilty of mishandling the April 2 election and a subsequent election. Their bail requests were rejected on Tuesday afternoon on ground that their release would create chaos in the society. The three convicted EC members vowed to fight on. Their status as EC members has yet to be officially invalidated.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/25/headlines/headlines_30009521.php
This 'Nation' Editorial was released online long after the court decision, but was obviously written before it. Even at this stage, its comments are highly relevant: -
EDITORIAL
Judicial activism and democracy
The Criminal Court's verdict on the EC trio will have a significant impact on this country's political future
The Criminal Court is set to hand down its verdict today on whether three election commissioners are guilty of malfeasance in their handling of the reruns of the April 2 general election as charged by the opposition Democrat Party. The case is seen by many as the best hope to help resolve the current political stalemate so that Thailand's flawed democracy can begin to heal itself - that is, if a guilty verdict and consequent sentencing cause the election commissioners to lose their positions.
On the contrary, if beleaguered election commissioners Vasana Puemlarp, Prinya Nakchudtree and Virachai Naewboonnien somehow get to retain their jobs either through a not-guilty verdict, or a guilty verdict that is not accompanied by an immediate jail sentence, the still volatile situation may very well erupt into another political crisis pitting supporters of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra against his opponents.
No one is telling the Criminal Court, which has the judicial prerogative, what to do on this or any other case.
Yet many people, feeling helpless in the face of the corruption of the country's democratic institutions during the five-and-a-half years under caretaker prime minister Thaksin, are counting on the court not only to see that justice is done in this particular case, but also to ensure that the country's ailing democracy has a chance to make a full recovery.
By signing a Royal Decree for a fresh general election to be held on October 15, His Majesty has put an end to five months of strong political uncertainty born of fear of potentially violent confrontation.
It now becomes clear for all to see that the incumbent election commissioners, notorious for their incompetence and servile attitude towards caretaker prime minister Thaksin, are the last remaining obstacles standing in the way of the normalisation of the democratic process.
In a note written by hand in the margin of the decree, His Majesty pointedly stressed that a free and fair election was a prerequisite for a peaceful end to the turmoil. The message from the monarch could not be lost on anyone. It shows that His Majesty shares the public's concern about the need for the country to hold an election that is free from vote buying and other fraudulent electoral activities.
And it is clear that the election commissioners can no longer be trusted to organise a free and fair election. In May, the Constitution Court dealt a devastating blow to what little credibility the EC had left by ordering a new poll to be organised after nullifying the April 2 election, citing the fact that irregularities in setting the election date and a lack of voter privacy had rendered the election unconstitutional.
Most people expected the EC trio to step down to take responsibility for their mistakes and for demeaning the dignity of their offices, but they managed to weather public ridicule and vowed to stay on to organise the new general election.
Today, the Criminal Court is expected to rule on whether the three election commissioners are guilty of malfeasance for instructing provincial election commissioners to admit candidates who lost out in the April 2 general election elsewhere to compete in the April 23 reruns in constituencies where unchallenged candidates failed to receive the required 20 per cent of all available votes. The EC move was widely seen as being biased in favour of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party, the only main political party that fielded candidates in the general election boycotted by all key opposition parties.
The Criminal Court's verdict today will determine the future course of democracy and the destiny of this country.
In the future, the country's democracy will either be put back on the road to recovery or it will slip back into a vicious cycle of political corruption that could turn back the clock, and with it, roll back the political, economic and social progress that we have achieved so far.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/25/opinion/opinion_30009523.php
Wisarut
25-07-06, 06:40 PM
Now, Ai maew has to grudgely accepted that these 3 Stooge EC are about to live in Prison Cells .... Redy to get Sodomized by the jailmates :eek:
:rolleyes: :p
REF: http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000095029
But could go to Supreme Court tomorrow: -
Appeals Court upholds decision not to grant bail to EC
The Appeals Court Tuesday upheld the decision of the Criminal Court not to grant bail to the three election commissioners.
The court reasoned that if the three were released on bail, they could cause damages to the handling of the election.
The three could still appeal against the decision with the Supreme Court.
But since the court's office is now closed, they would have to wait until tomorrow and will have to spend the night inside Bangkok Remand Prison.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009535
It seems almost as if the judiciary has decided that this really has to be dealt with ASAP: -
Supreme Court to start EC selection process on Wednesday
The Supreme Court will start the process to select candidates for the new Election Commission on Wednesday, the secretary to the court said Tuesday.
Wiraj Chinvinjikul, secretary to the Supreme Court, said the Supreme Court would announce Wednesday for interested persons to apply for EC posts.
He said the selection process would take about 20 days.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009536
Will we also hear what they eat for breakfast?: -
3 EC commissioners arrive at Remand Prison
The three disgraced election commissioners arrived at the Bangkok Remand Prison at 6:45 pm.
They took off their suit and wore only white shirts when they were put behind bars.
They were detained at the first zone of the prison. Reporters were not allowed to take photos of them behind bars.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009538
It seems that a nation raised on the idea that the big ones always get away is finding it quite hard to get to grips with the concept that fancy folks can actually be locked up.
Well, we didn't quite get to hear what kind of salapao they decided to have, but something not especially welcome probably arrived for breakfast: -
EC secretary-general bring resignation letters to EC trio
The secretary-general of the Election Commission Wednesday morning brought resignation letters to three jailed election commissioners at the Bangkok Remand Prison.
Ekkachai Warunprapha took the resignations for the three commissioners to sign at 8:10 am.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009604
The Nation 26/07/07 11:26 AM
Urgent: 3 EC commissioners sign resignations
The three election commissioners have signed their resignations.
Sources said the three signed their resignations Wednesday morning.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009610
The Enforcer!
26-07-06, 02:44 PM
Let's not hold our breath.
They have have been found quilty but now they have resigned, I would not be surprised to see that they win their appeal to the Supreme Court!
The Enforcer!
3 EC commissioners receive medical check-up behind bars
The Corrections Department chief said the three election commissioners became very stressed so a doctor was deployed to perform their medical check-up.
Natthi Jitsawang, director-general of the Corrections Department, said a doctor was sent in to perform a check-up and talk to them so that they could become less stressed.
Natthi said the three did not receive any special treatment except they were detained in a separate room from other detainees and were allowed to feed on foods provided by relatives.
Their room does not have any conditioner, Natthi said.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009613
Is this the same guy who tried to pull a sicky the day before yesterday, but chose the wrong doctor: -
Veerachai taken to Chulalongkorn Hopsital
Prison guards took Election Commission member Veerachai Naewboonnien to Chulalongkorn Hospital for kidney dialysis at noon Wednesday.
Officials said Veerachai became ill during his detention at the Bangkok Reman Prison Tuesday night because he could not sleep well.
He was taken to the hospital at 25 minutes past noon.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009615
Does anyone know if Veerachai has a history of renal problems? Or whether the problem has recently set in as he is under stress? (You'd better believe he's under stress, from both sides!)
This really does raise the issue of whether he was deliberately chosen for the EC job because he needed/wanted to find a way to be treated for an expensive ailment in a private hospital. Dialysis machines are not two a penny here.
Such things happen here often, but it should be noted that it would probably be seen locally as an act of benevolence. On the other hand, that's how Thaksin rationalizes most of his impetuous acts and blatant arm-twisting exercises.
Veerachai is back in Chula for dialysis again this morning.
It seems that all three of the jailed EC commissioners are suffering from diseases of opulence. To say the least, I doubt whether these problems would let the likes of you and I out for such crimes as either visa overstay or dishonestly handling millions of the taxpayer's money: -
Former EC members tell court they have health problems.
The three former election commissioners told the Criminal Court that they have health problems so the court should have mercy and release them on bail.
Former EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp to Criminal Court chief justice Amnuay Thatara that he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as having pain on his neck and hip due to high calcium.
Vasna told the court that he also suffered from allergy and needed to see doctors every Wednesday.
Prinya Nakchudtree told the court he had sinusitis and had problem with his intestine and allergy and needed to see doctors twice a week.
Virachai told the court that he needed to receive kidney dialysis three times a week as well as having heart problems and high cholesterol.
The Nation
The three also have no connection with any mob that took up their case: -
Three former EC members distance themselves from supporters
The three former election commissioners told the Criminal Court chief justice that they had nothing to do with people who held noisy protests in support of them.
The three - Vasana Puemlarp, Prinya Nakchutree, and Virachai Naewboonnien - said they did not know and were not related to the protesters who protests in the court's compound after the trio were found guilty.
The three were answering the questions of Criminal Court chief justice Amnuay Thantara who summoned the three to testify as part of their new bail application.
The chief justice also asked if the three could guarantee that if they were released, they would make sure that the protesters would create more trouble to the court. The said promised to talk to the protesters not to launch more protests against the court.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009800
And having sufficiently bitten the bullet for all of five seconds, they have now been bailed - on certain conditions: -
Ex-EC Trio released on bail
Criminal Court has released on bail on Friday three Election Commissioners jailed for malfeasance after they promised to stay away from any election activities and guarantee that their supporters would not stage any more protest in front of the court houses.
Lawyers of the trio also attached medical reports which showed that they are in need of medical attention. The reports said Vasana Puemlarp suffered from allergies, Prinya Nakchudtree from high blood pressure and sinus while Virachai Naewboonnien from kidney failure.
The trio were brought from Bangkok Remand Prison on Friday where they had been jailed since Tuesday to the Criminal Court to be questioned by a judge.
The trio promised the court that they would stay away from any election-related activities. The court told them that once they are freed on bail, they have four hours to pack their belongings at the Election Commission Office.
The Court also asked a guarantee from them that their supporters would not conduct any protests in front of the court houses. They agreed to help prevent any form of public demonstration.
On Tuesday when the Criminal Court read the verdict on their trial, their supporters staged noisy gathering outside the court's building. They even booed when they learnt that the Court found them guilty. Emotion runs high, followed by pushing and shoving between the two opposing sides. One man who was demonstrating against the former EC members was kicked and fell to the ground.
When the trio were taken to Bangkok Remand Prison, their supporters also gathered in front of the prison to express their dissatisfaction that the trio were jailed.
The bail request on Friday was the third after the Criminal Court found the trio guilty of malfeasance and mishandling the April election and sentenced them to four years in prison and their voting rights stripped of for ten years.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/28/headlines/headlines_30009808.php
Last night I was told that the EC Commissioner who was hospitalized for dialysis has died. No one has reported this! Anyone know?
Last night I was told that the EC Commissioner who was hospitalized for dialysis has died. No one has reported this! Anyone know?
Virachai Naewboonnien? It definitely wasn't Vassana! Quote below from an earlier post in this string: -
Former EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp to Criminal Court chief justice Amnuay Thatara that he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as having pain on his neck and hip due to high calcium.
Vasna told the court that he also suffered from allergy and needed to see doctors every Wednesday.
Prinya Nakchudtree told the court he had sinusitis and had problem with his intestine and allergy and needed to see doctors twice a week.
Virachai told the court that he needed to receive kidney dialysis three times a week as well as having heart problems and high cholesterol.
Could it be confusion with an EC Commissioner who died a few months back?
The courts have handed down another verdict on the Electoral Commission 'Gang of Three': -
EX-EC trio get 2-year imprisonment
The Criminal Court Friday found the three former election commissioners guilty of dereliction of duty for failing to taking proper action against the Thai Rak Thai Party for bankrolling small parties to run in the April 2 election.
The court found ex-EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp, Prinyanakchudtree and Virachai Naewboonnien guilty as charged by Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the Democrat Party.
The court initially sentenced them to three years in jail but commuted penalty by one thirds. The court also revoked their election right for ten years.
The three were earlier sentenced to four years imprisonment for unlawfully handling of repeated elections after the April 2 election.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30013710
Three former EC commissioners released on bail
The three former election commissioners were released on bail Friday afternoon after the Criminal Court found them guilty of malfeasance for failing to launch investigations against the Thai Rak Thai Party.
Vasana Puemlarp, Prinyanakchudtree and Virachai Naewboonnien were released after placing assets worth Bt120,000 each as guarantee.
The court earlier the day found them guilty of failing to order an investigation against the Thai Rak Thai after an investigation panel reported that the party had bankrolled small parties to contest the April 2 election.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30013711
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