Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has postponed the declaration of the official result of Sunday’s by-election, in the northern province of Lampang, until next week, due to allegations of vote buying.
The election committee in the province said today that representatives of the Seri Ruam Thai party had lodged a complaint of alleged election fraud, after the posting of a clip onsocial media, by former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, claiming voting buying had taken place on Sunday.
Unofficial poll results indicate Palang Pracharat candidate Mr.Wattana Sitthiwang won the seat with 61,000 votes, beating his rival from Seri Ruam Thai party, Pol Lt Somboon Klapachon, who bagged 38,000.
Vote buying is an offence under Section 73 of Thailand’selection law, and liable to a maximum prison term of ten years, a fine of 200,000 baht or both. If convicted, the offender will also face ten year ban from voting.
