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Published on December 8, 2007

"I will ask the EC to debate the issue on Tuesday," she said.

Sodsri said the EC was obliged to examine the legal ramifications of the Supreme Court's verdict on the Sithichai Kowsurat case.

Sithichai, a Puea Pandin party-list candidate for Zone 4, had his candidacy restored on Tuesday after the high court ruled that the People Power Party had claimed him as a member without his consent by putting his name on the roster with a forged signature.

Based on membership documents supplied by the PPP, the EC disqualified Sitthichai last month for holding duplicate party memberships.

Sodsri said PPP leader Samak Sundaravej would be held accountable and might face criminal charges if the EC found that he or his party had fabricated membership records. If the PPP intentionally tampered with its records to influence the electoral process, this could lead to a judicial review by the Constitution Tribunal, she said, noting the offence is punishable by party dissolution.

Under Article 19 of the Political Parties Act, a party registrar or a party leader can go to jail for between one and 10 years and pay a fine of up to Bt20,000 if found guilty of fabricating the members' list.

Article 94 stipulates that the EC chairman, as registrar of political parties, must petition the tribunal to dissolve parties involved in activities deemed harmful to democracy.

EC officials said a crucial issue to be reviewed is Samak's involvement in the case.

Sithichai's membership application was dated July, when the PPP was under the leadership of Supaporn Thienkaew. In August Samak was elected party leader following a takeover by Thai Rak Thai Party remnants.

Although Samak argued that he had not been party leader when the application was filed, he verified Sithichai's PPP membership last month at the request of the EC.

Legal pundits said that if Samak knowingly supplied Sithichai's falsified membership to the EC, it might be construed as an attempt to tamper with the electoral process.

PPP suspected of falsifying records

n The Nation

Election Commission member Sodsri Satayathum hinted yesterday that the EC might reopen investigations into the involvement of the People Power Party in falsified membership records, which could lead to criminal proceedings and party disbandment.

"I will ask the EC to debate the issue on Tuesday," she said.

Sodsri said the EC was obliged to examine the legal ramifications of the Supreme Court's verdict on the Sithichai Kowsurat case.

Sithichai, a Puea Pandin party-list candidate for Zone 4, had his candidacy restored on Tuesday after the high court ruled that the People Power Party had claimed him as a member without his consent by putting his name on the roster with a forged signature.

Based on membership documents supplied by the PPP, the EC disqualified Sitthichai last month for holding duplicate party memberships.

Sodsri said PPP leader Samak Sundaravej would be held accountable and might face criminal charges if the EC found that he or his party had fabricated membership records. If the PPP intentionally tampered with its records to influence the electoral process, this could lead to a judicial review by the Constitution Tribunal, she said, noting the offence is punishable by party dissolution.

Under Article 19 of the Political Parties Act, a party registrar or a party leader can go to jail for between one and 10 years and pay a fine of up to Bt20,000 if found guilty of fabricating the members' list.

Article 94 stipulates that the EC chairman, as registrar of political parties, must petition the tribunal to dissolve parties involved in activities deemed harmful to democracy.

EC officials said a crucial issue to be reviewed is Samak's involvement in the case.

Sithichai's membership application was dated July, when the PPP was under the leadership of Supaporn Thienkaew. In August Samak was elected party leader following a takeover by Thai Rak Thai Party remnants.

Although Samak argued that he had not been party leader when the application was filed, he verified Sithichai's PPP membership last month at the request of the EC.

Legal pundits said that if Samak knowingly supplied Sithichai's falsified membership to the EC, it might be construed as an attempt to tamper with the electoral process.