Bangkok: The Criminal Court for Corruption Cases has dismissed the case involving allegations of collusion among senators, ruling that the plaintiff lacked the necessary authority to file the lawsuit. This decision marks the end of a legal battle initiated by a former reserve senator against key election officials.
According to Thai News Agency, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases dismissed the lawsuit filed by Senator Akkarawat Pongthanachalitkul. The lawsuit accused Ittiporn Boonprakong, the chairman of the Election Commission, other commission members, and Saweang Boonmee, the secretary-general, of malfeasance in office related to their handling of a senator collusion case. The charges were based on alleged violations under the Penal Code and election-related laws.
Senator Akkarawat, who had raised concerns about the slow progress and lack of action in the Senate collusion case by Subcommittee 36, expressed disappointment in the court's decision. He emphasized that the authority to file such lawsuits lies with the Attorney General and noted that the Thung Song Hong Police Station had already forwarded the case file to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). While he mentioned the possibility of appealing to the Supreme Court, he chose not to disclose specific details at this time.
The court had initially scheduled a preliminary hearing for November 4, 2025, after instructing the plaintiff to amend the complaint. The revised complaint was submitted on time, leading to a second hearing on December 23, 2025. During this session, the court requested clarifications from both the Election Commission Office and Thung Song Hong Police Station on several issues by January 23, 2026. The Election Commission Office sought an additional 30 days, which extended their deadline to February 22, 2026, yet the police station failed to meet the deadline.
The court advised the plaintiff to submit any written objections by March 9, 2026, warning that failure to do so would imply acceptance of the court's ruling. The preliminary examination hearing was postponed to today, culminating in the dismissal of the case due to the plaintiff's lack of jurisdiction.