Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has collected sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation, made by some failed senatorial candidates, that the Senate election last June was riddled with collusion.
The DSI’s special case committee, headed by Phumtham, is scheduled to meet Tuesday to decide whether to accept the allegation as a special case for further investigation by the DSI.
Phumtham insisted that any DSI investigation is not politically motivated, but just a legal process to examine the allegation, as he claimed that the Election Commission (EC) has asked the DSI to treat the matter as a special case.
Meanwhile, Senate whips held a closed-door meeting this morning, to discuss the DSI’s move.
After the meeting, Senate Speaker Mongkol Surasajja told the media that neither the DSI nor the Justice Ministry have the authority to investigate the Senate, which rests with the EC, according to the Constitution.
He dismissed the DSI’s charge of criminal association against the Senate, posing a threat to national security, as illegitimate and unconstitutional, claiming that the 200 senators were legally elected and approved by the EC.
The Law Council of Thailand received a petition and evidence of alleged vote collusion in the Senate election today, from failed senatorial candidate Natthaporn Toprayoon.
Natthaporn said he wants the Senate election to be declared null and void, adding that he has asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the EC for failing to perform its duty appropriately.
The council’s president, Wichien Chubthaisong, who is one of the 22 members of the DSI’s special case committee, said that he will submit the evidence to the committee tomorrow.
