iLaw Reveals Buriram Senator's Call to EC Secretary
iLaw discloses phone records showing Buriram Senator Pranee Kramram called EC Secretary-General Sawang Boonmee for 39 seconds on August 12, 2024.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- iLaw exposed phone call records involving a Buriram senator.
- A 39-second call was made to EC Secretary-General Sawang Boonmee on August 12, 2024.
- Questions surround the senator's qualifications and athletic background.
- The Election Commission previously dismissed the case on December 24, 2024.
On August 27, internet freedom watchdog iLaw published online findings detailing a telephone communication record between a senator from Buriram province and a high-ranking official at the Election Commission of Thailand.
According to the disclosed data, Pranee Kramram, a senator representing Group 16 in Buriram province—who previously served as a driver for former Parliament President Chai Chidchob, father of Bhumjaithai Party leader Newin Chidchob—placed a phone call to EC Secretary-General Sawang Boonmee.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The telephone record indicates that the call took place on August 12, 2024, lasting for a duration of 39 seconds. This disclosure has drawn renewed public attention amid ongoing scrutiny regarding senate selection processes and previous legal challenges concerning candidate qualifications.
During the senate selection, Pranee emerged as one of 14 senators from Buriram who secured a dominant 54 votes in the cross-election round. However, a formal complaint was previously filed with the EC alleging that the senator lacked the required 10 years of professional experience mandated by law.
Investigating communication lines between political figures and regulatory officials often sparks public debate, as it touches upon transparency, lobbying allegations, and the perceived independence of investigative bodies handling election-related disputes.
Under the Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators B.E. 2561, candidates must possess at least 10 years of experience in their claimed field. Pranee's candidate form initially stated experience as a senior football athlete from 1984 to 2004, sparking chronological and age-requirement debates based on sports authority regulations.
"The respondent is truly a football player, and the discrepancy in the application form is considered a communication error, with no other evidence confirming any violation of the law as alleged."
Election Commission Ruling No. 251/2567
During the inquiry, Pranee explained that staff members filled out the application form because glasses were not available at the time, leading to unauthorized additions such as the word "senior". Subsequently, on December 24, 2024, the Election Commission issued ruling No. 251/2567 dismissing the complaint due to a lack of evidence proving intentional wrongdoing.
Source: Matichon Politics
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