Disappointment and criticism are mounting after reports that an Election Commission (EC) subcommittee has voted to clear all 229 suspects in the high-profile Senate election collusion case, prompting calls for the commission to disclose its reasoning.
An EC source said the subcommittee, chaired by Pol Capt Piya Raksakul, a former deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), voted 5-2 on Thursday to reject findings from an earlier inquiry that had accused 229 people of colluding in the Senate selection in 2024.
Those named include 138 current senators and 91 others comprising Bhumjaithai Party executives, members and their associates. They are accused in taking part in a large-scale vote-rigging scheme to ensure the election of Bhumjaithai-linked candidates to the 200-member upper house.
The case file will now be submitted to the full seven-member EC board, which has 90 days to decide whether to endorse the panel’s conclusion, which would result in the case being closed.
The decision comes just a week after a group of reserve senators asked the EC to remove Pol Capt Piya from the panel, citing possible bias after a photograph surfaced showing him fraternising with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai Party leader, at a recent event in Buri Ram.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, said the reported decision contradicts public expectations and urged the EC to handle the matter transparently.
He said his party would continue to monitor developments and review additional information about the Senate selection process.
Legal scholar Prinya Thaewanarumitkul of Thammasat University on Friday called on the EC to release the facts and legal grounds behind the subcommittee’s finding of “no grounds” for the allegations.
In a Facebook post, he noted that the EC had previously referred unsuccessful Senate candidates to the Supreme Court on minimal evidence — such as a single LINE message suggesting they “pair up”.
In the current case, which allegedly involves stronger evidence including names on voting sheets, the commission instead appointed a separate panel that concluded none of the 229 suspects faced actionable charges.
He warned that failing to send even part of the case for judicial review could further erode public trust.
Former EC commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn also questioned the appointment of the subcommittee, noting that election-related cases are typically assigned to subcommittees by random rotation to prevent interference or attempts to influence outcomes.
Historically, he said, such subcommittees acted as a filter, reviewing evidence before cases reached the full EC board. Setting up a special panel solely to handle the Senate case could raise concerns about procedural irregularities and fairness.
He added that the EC may choose to wait for an April 22 hearing on the legality of the subcommittee’s appointment or move swiftly to conclude the case before that date.
The DSI, meanwhile, confirmed it would continue its separate criminal investigations into alleged “secret society” activities and possible money-laundering offences, regardless of the EC subcommittee’s findings.
The matters being pursued by the DSI fall under different legislation and remain subject to orders from a special prosecutor.
The agency noted that the EC’s internal decision has no bearing on the criminal process, which must proceed until all investigative requirements are met.
Separately, former MP Thepthai Senpong voiced concern that recent political changes could heighten public fears of interference in high-profile cases, including both the Senate collusion probe and the long-running dispute over land encroachment in Khao Kradong district of Buri Ram, the Bhumjaithai Party’s base.
The final vote in the three-stage Senate election on June 26, 2024 produced highly unusual results, notably a disproportionate number of winners from provinces where the Bhumjaithai Party is strong electorally.
