Thai Court Sentences Saranout to 8 Months for Vote Fraud
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions sentenced former MP Saranout Simpakdee to 8 months in prison without suspension over a 2013 proxy voting case.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Supreme Court sentenced former MP Saranout Simpakdee to 8 months in prison for proxy voting.
- The incident stems from a special parliamentary session on September 20, 2013, regarding a massive borrowing bill.
- The court ruled the offense severe with no suspended sentence, while granting temporary release pending appeal.
On September 16, 2026, reports emerged that the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions delivered its verdict in case number Am 14/2025, filed by the Attorney General against Mr. Saranout Simpakdee, former House Representative for Uttaradit province and former member of the Pheu Thai Party.
The prosecution stemmed from a special parliamentary meeting held on September 20, 2013. The House convened to deliberate sections 3, 4, and 5 of the draft Act Empowering the Ministry of Finance to Borrow Funds for National Transportation Infrastructure Development.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
During the session, Mr. Saranout, who represented Uttaradit's constituency 2, traveled to Sukhothai province and was absent from the parliament floor. Instead, he left his electronic identification voting card with another Member of Parliament to cast votes on his behalf.
The court reviewed the case and concluded that the defendant's actions constituted a severe violation. Consequently, the panel sentenced him to eight months of imprisonment without suspension.
Proxy voting scandals involving Thai politicians serve as critical legal precedents upholding legislative integrity. Courts view the personal duty to cast votes in parliament as a fundamental responsibility of elected officials, meaning that handing electronic cards to colleagues heavily undermines the legitimacy of democratic lawmaking processes.
Following the delivery of the verdict, legal representatives for Mr. Saranout submitted a request for bail. The court considered the petition and subsequently granted temporary release while the case undergoes the appeal process.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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