A group of reserve senators has asked the Election Commission (EC) to remove Pol Capt Piya Raksakul from a panel investigating allegations of collusion and vote-rigging in the 2024 Senate election, citing possible bias after a photograph showing him with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul surfaced.
Pol Capt Piya currently chairs an EC subcommittee ruling on disputes related to the collusion case in which dozens of sitting senators are implicated.
The petitioners point to photographs showing Pol Capt Piya greeting Mr Anutin at an airport in Buri Ram on March 1, when the premier travelled to officiate at the season-opening MotoGP event.
Reserve senator Akkarawat Pongthanachalitkul noted the airport apron area is not accessible to the general public, raising concerns about the appropriateness of the encounter.
He cited EC regulations requiring inquiry subcommittee members to demonstrate political neutrality and integrity.
The panel led by Pol Capt Piya is responsible for determining whether to proceed with charges recommended by a separate investigative subcommittee. The latter previously proposed indicting more than 200 individuals, including Mr Anutin, in the collusion case. If the subcommittee decides not to indict, the matter would effectively end at that stage.
Mr Akkarawat said Pol Capt Piya’s conduct could undermine public confidence in the panel’s impartiality. He also asked the EC to bar him from accessing case files or evidence pending a decision.
The final Senate 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.
