Election Commission Rejects Petitions Against Bhumjaithai Party’s Alleged Illegal Donations
PUBLISHED: 28 Dec 2024 at 19:48
The Election Commission has officially dismissed four petitions aimed at dismantling the Bhumjaithai Party over allegations of unlawful donations, citing insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.
The Commission found no concrete proof to support the accusations that the Bhumjaithai Party, which is the second-largest in the governing coalition, had deliberately accepted donations from illicit sources.
The petitions were filed by several individuals, alleging violations of Section 72 of the organic law governing political parties, as well as Section 92 which pertains to party dissolution.
Among the serious allegations was the claim that Bhumjaithai received improper donations from Burijarearn Construction, a company purportedly linked to Saksayam Chidchob, a former transport minister and ex-secretary-general of the party.
Saksayam faced removal from his ministerial position by the Constitutional Court earlier this year after it was determined he concealed a majority shareholding in Burijarearn Construction, thus breaching legal restrictions applicable to cabinet members.
Chuwit Kamolvisit, a key petitioner, accused Burijarearn of securing numerous contracts from the Ministry of Transport during Saksayam’s tenure, with alleged funds benefiting the party tied to his family’s interests.
In a statement, the Election Commission remarked, “There is no evidence indicating that Bhumjaithai accepted donations knowing they were illegal or potentially derived from unlawful activities.”
“Should new evidence emerge in the future indicating wrongdoing related to bid submissions to public entities, the case will be reconsidered by the registrar of parties,” the commission added.
Additionally, allegations of illegal financial backing from Silachai Buriram (1991) Co. and an individual named Supachai Kasemsutthi were also dismissed due to lack of supporting evidence.
Sawang Boonmee, the Commission’s secretary-general, previously stated that the allegations against Saksayam did not warrant disbanding the political party.
