Yongyuth's wife faced jail term for filing false charge
The Chiang Rai Provincial Court sentenced wife of Natural Resources and Environment Yongyuth Tiyapairat to three years and nine months for raising a false charge against a local politican in 2004.
Yongyuth's wife, Salakchit, is ordered to pay a Bt75,000 fine and have her voting right revoked for 10 years. Following the verdict session, she sought and received Bt500,000 bail pending the appellate review in 30 days. The litigation ensued after a fierce contest between Salakchit and rival candidate Ratana Chongsutthanamanee for a position of chairman of Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organisation. Weeks before the balloting day, Salakchit, who was seeking her reelection bid, accused Ratana of vote-buying. The Election Commission dropped her charge on grounds of lack of evidence. After her election victory, Ratana sued Salakchit. The court invoked the local elections law to penalise Salakchit. Under relevant provisions, a rival candidate faces a jail term of up to five years, a fine of up to Bt100,000 and a mandatory suspension of voting right for 10 years if found guilty of making false accusation. The penalty is the same as the votebuying offence. The court commuted the sentencing for Salakchit after finding that she had no prior record. Salakchit is presently campaigning for a Senate seat and may be disqualified if she failed to overturn the verdict. Under the national elections law, a senatorial candidate must have voting right intact. The Nation
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