Democrat star banned from election race

General news - Friday December 14, 2007

Democrat star banned from election race

Convicted of buying votes in 2001 poll

SUNANT OCHAKACHORN

A Democrat candidate for Ratchaburi has been banned from politics for 10 years for buying votes during the 2001 general election. The Supreme Court yesterday handed down a one-year suspended jail term and a fine of 20,000 baht on Boonmak Sirinaovakul, who is the Democrat candidate for Ratchaburi's constituency 2.According to the prosecution's lawsuit, Boonmak, then a Democrat candidate for Ratchaburi's constituency 1, paid 1,000 baht to Sing Nakkham, the kamnan of tambon Pikulthong and five others, including two spies sent by provincial election commission.

He paid them on the night of Dec 5, 2000 so they would vote for him at the Jan 6, 2001 election.

Earlier, the provincial court and the Appeals Court cleared the former MP of the vote-buying charge but prosecutors appealed. The Supreme Court yesterday found the former MP guilty.

The court's ruling made Boonmak the first candidate to be disqualified by the court in the election race under the new constitution.

The former MP burst into tears on hearing the verdict. He said he accepted the ruling and would return to his teaching job.

He apologised to the Democrat party and gave encouragement to other party candidates contesting the Dec 23 poll. He thanked the people of Ratchaburi for their support over the years.

Democrat candidates in the province and supporters yesterday flocked to the party's branch office in Ratchaburi to give moral support to Boonmak, a strong contender in constituency 2.

The Democrats in Ratchaburi had been hopeful that Boonmak would beat three-time former MP Wiwat Nitikanchana, who moved from the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party to stand for Matchimathipataya party at this election.

Mr Wiwat served as an MP in constituency 2.

Boonmak served as MP for Ratchaburi, in 1995 and 1996. He was also a secretary to the PM's Office Minister and the parliamentary committee on the fiscal budget in 1997.

Bangkok Post