Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Democrat MP Theptai Seanapong from performing his duty as an MP, pending its ruling on his parliamentary status.

The Nakhon Si Thammarat MP, and his younger brother Manote, were sentenced to two years in prison without suspension by the provincial court after being found guilty of vote buying, ahead of the mayoral election in Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administration Organization in 2014.

The court also revoked Theptai’s voting rights, which means that he will be barred from politics for ten years, if the verdict is upheld by a higher court.

After the conviction, the Election Commission submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court seeking a ruling on Mr. Theptai’s parliamentary status, in accordance with Sections 101 (6), 96 (2) and 98 (4) of the Constitution.

The Court accepted the EC’s petition for consideration and asked Mr. Thepthai to submit his defence in writing to the Court within 15 days.