The Supreme Court has revoked the election rights of Senator Keskamol Pleansamai for 10 years after finding that she misled voters about her qualifications by using the title “professor” while running in the 2024 Senate election.
The ruling also means that Dr Keskamol, 47, automatically loses her seat in the 200-member Senate.
The case stemmed from a petition filed in July 2025 by the Election Commission, which had received complaints about the academic credentials claimed by the candidate. Misrepresenting qualifications is an offence under Section 77 (4) of the organic law on the selection of senators.
In its ruling delivered on Wednesday, the court’s Election Cases Division agreed that Dr Keskamol had improperly used the title of “professor” to mislead others during the 2024 Senate selection process.
The petition from the EC was supported by six key pieces of evidence, including the application for candidacy that Dr Keskamol filed in Phetchaburi province, and text messages that she sent to a Line group.
In one such message, she introduced herself as “Professor Dr Keskamol Pleansamai”, presenting herself as a specialist in mental health and aesthetic dermatology.
Upon investigation, the EC found that although Dr Keskamol is a licensed physician with over a decade of experience and holds a medical degree from Rangsit University, her claim to the title “Professor” and a doctoral degree in political science from “California University” in the United States lacked verification.
Thai authorities, including the Office of the Civil Service Commission, found no record of her holding such a professorship or having her doctoral degree recognised officially.
Dr Keskamol argued that she earned the degree and professorship from California University, which she claimed is accredited by the US Department of Education, adding that she completed the programme over three years.
California University FCE does not issue degrees, but issues certificates based on an applicant’s education and career experience. It is the same institution where Thamanat Prompow, the chief adviser to the Klatham Party, obtained his PhD.
The EC concluded that introducing herself as “Professor Dr” misled voters and gave Dr Keskamol an unfair advantage, violating Sections 62 and 77 of the organic law on the selection of senators.
The owner of four clinics, “Dr Kes” — as she is known to her large online following — said that when she ran for the Senate, she chose to compete in the Freelance Workers group, rather than the Public Health group because the latter featured many well-known people.
She ran as an independent, gaining the highest number of votes in the final round of the three-stage election.
Dr Keskamol is also one of dozens of senators being investigated for collusion and vote-rigging in the 2024 poll.
The final vote on June 26, 2024 produced highly unusual results, notably a disproportionate number of winners from provinces where the Bhumjaithai Party is strong electorally.
In addition to 138 current senators out of 200, those accused of collusion include 91 other people affiliated with Bhumjaithai, such as executive members and those tied to associated groups.
However, since Bhumjaithai assumed control of the government in September last year, there has been little news of progress in the cases.
