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Published on December 24, 2007

In the first case, police detained Prasong Yuhuat, 60, who voted at a polling station in Samut Prakan's Muang district.

She claimed she had no intention to tear the paper. "When I was voting for the proportionate MP, I wrote down a number instead of making an X mark. When I realised the mistake, I tore the ballot and asked for a new one," she said.

Wanpen Buranapon, director of the polling station, said she saw Prasong tearing the ballot and tried to stop her. Prasong admitted guilt but insisted she had no intent. She was detained for questioning.

Also in Muang district, police detained 67-year-old Thongchai Buamuang, who ripped up ballots for both proportionate and party-list MPs. He claimed he tore them into pieces so that he could put them into the ballot boxes.

In Maha Sarakham, 71-year-old Sawat Sriprasert was detained after he tore his ballot for the proportionate vote. He said he thought he had to tear the paper before putting it in the box.

Withaya Limanonwarachai, director of the Election Commission in Maha Sarakham, believed Sawat might have misunderstood the process. He said he had ordered officials at every polling station in the province to avoid misunderstandings.

In Kamphaeng Phet, 75-year-old Prasith Ngamsuay tore his ballot because he wanted a new one after marking his wrongly.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, 73-year-old Samreng Chuadee tore her ballot because she believed she had to divide it into halves.

In Samut Sakhon, Yen Chatthan tore his ballot because he was drunk.