Bangkok: The Supreme Court has ordered the revocation of voting rights for Mukdawan Leungsinil, a Member of Parliament for Constituency 8 in Nakhon Si Thammarat representing the Bhumjaithai Party. Additionally, she has been mandated to pay 8 million baht in compensation.
According to Thai News Agency, the ruling came as a result of a request by the Election Commission (EC), citing violations of election laws. The court ruled that Ms. Mukdawan must compensate for election management costs due to these violations. The EC had previously decided to petition the Supreme Court to revoke Ms. Mukdawan's rights to run for elections or vote under specific sections of the Constitution and the Organic Law on the Election of Members of Parliament.
The allegations against Ms. Mukdawan included her supposed involvement or awareness of electoral fraud activities. It was reported that Sergeant Major Thawarn Kaewsri-on distributed 500 baht to each of 50 eligible voters, totaling 25,000 baht, to encourage them to vote for her. These actions were deemed as credible evidence of electoral misconduct. The Supreme Court had accepted the petition for consideration on July 5, 2024, leading to Ms. Mukdawan's suspension from her MP duties pending the court's final decision.
Following this ruling, the Election Commission plans to propose to the Cabinet to seek royal approval for a decree to conduct elections to fill the vacant parliamentary positions. This process is to be completed within 45 days, in accordance with Section 101, Paragraph One (1) of the Constitution.