Parit Reveals New Financial Trails Linking Senate Rigging in Two Provinces
Parit exposes financial evidence connecting Senate selection rigging in Surat Thani and Nong Bua Lamphu, naming seven candidates involved in money transfers.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Parit reveals financial trails linking Senate election rigging in Surat Thani and Nong Bua Lamphu.
- Money transfers from Subin connected to a Bhumjaithai MP linked to 10 Senate candidates in Surat Thani totaling 32,000 Baht.
- Transfers from Senator Sorachat through his secretary linked to 7 Senate candidates in Nong Bua Lamphu totaling 105,000 Baht.
- Witnesses report returning part of their Senate assistant salaries to the secretary for distribution within the network.
Parit disclosed new financial trail evidence from at least two provinces, namely Surat Thani and Nong Bua Lamphu. Regarding Surat Thani, the financial evidence connects to Subin Sakda, whom iLaw previously revealed is suspected to be a campaign team member of Phichai Chomphuphon, a Surat Thani MP from the Bhumjaithai Party. Evidence shows money transfers from Subin to 10 Senate candidates totaling 32,000 Baht between June 15-16, 2024, exactly one day prior to the provincial-level Senate selection.
As for Nong Bua Lamphu, the financial trail links to Senator Sorachat Wichayasuwanphrom, matching information previously presented on July 26. Sorachat currently serves as a Senator for Nong Bua Lamphu from Group 13, securing the highest score in his group during the national-level selection. During the opposition whip's stage two weeks prior, witness Sananchai Chuay-udomthanakit from Nong Bua Lamphu testified that he joined an organized network set up to recruit and hire Senate candidates led by Sorachat, noting he heard Sorachat making a phone call to Deputy Prime Minister Thongsak Thongศรี—who served as Deputy Minister of Interior at the time—regarding candidate lists.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The disclosed financial evidence corresponds with the witness allegations, revealing transfers from Sorachat to Ms. Phannipa Phasuk, identified by multiple witnesses as Sorachat's secretary. Transfers from Bank A totaled 51,300 Baht and Bank B totaled 502,300 Baht, amounting to 553,600 Baht. Furthermore, transfers from Ms. Phannipa to seven Nong Bua Lamphu Senate candidates totaled 105,000 Baht between May and August 2024, including:
- Ms. Thanyarat Suwanphrom, Group 9 candidate, Si Bun Rueang district, 6 transactions totaling 36,000 Baht.
- Ms. Sumalai Trongsangrit, Group 14 candidate, Si Bun Rueang district, 2 transactions totaling 3,000 Baht.
- Mr. Sananchai Chuay-udomthanakit, Group 17 candidate, Si Bun Rueang district, 1 transaction totaling 1,000 Baht.
- Ms. Piyamart Silaแดง, Group 13 candidate, Si Bun Rueang district, 3 transactions totaling 15,000 Baht.
- Mr. Somphan Suk-uan, Group 19 candidate, Suwannakhuha district, 2 transactions totaling 40,000 Baht.
- Mr. Somsak Bunthee, Group 6 candidate, Si Bun Rueang district, 5 transactions totaling 5,000 Baht.
- Mr. Samrit Kong-on, Group 2 candidate, Suwannakhuha district, 1 transaction totaling 5,000 Baht.
The majority of transfers, totaling 95,000 Baht, occurred between May and June 2024 prior to the district and provincial selections, while a 10,000 Baht transfer in August 2024 followed the conclusion of the Senate selection. This aligns with Sananchai's statement that upon being appointed as a Senate assistant, he had to transfer a portion of his salary back to Ms. Phannipa to distribute to other former candidates in the network.
This exposure of financial transactions in the Senate selection process marks a critical milestone in scrutinizing how members of the Upper House are acquired through the self-selection mechanism. Because the system is designed with complex occupational groupings, presenting actual bank transfer records linked to close associates such as secretaries elevates political opposition claims from mere allegations to empirical evidence that independent bodies and relevant authorities must investigate further.
Meanwhile, Sorachat defended himself by stating Ms. Phannipa previously assisted his 2023 MP campaign but did not participate in the Senate selection and was unaware of the transfers. However, Parit argued that this explanation remains suspicious, questioning why someone who was merely a past campaign assistant would receive hundreds of thousands of Baht from Sorachat without any denial or explanation regarding the money trail, reflecting a close relationship.
Source: Matichon Politics
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