MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the incumbent Bangkok governor, is still eligible to contest the coming Bangkok governor election despite being charged over a contract allowing the Bangkok Transit System Co (BTSC) to operate the skytrain extensions, Election Commission secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said on Thursday.

Mr Puchong said according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act and Local Election Act, a candidate for the post of Bangkok governor must not have been convicted by a court or detained under a court warrant.

MR Sukhumbhand has just been charged by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Even though the case against him has been filed with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in the Criminal Court, he is still qualified to run in the election as long as he has not been declared a convict, he said.

Mr Puchong said the DSI has the authority to charge MR Sukhumbhand and the EC is not in a position to stop it.

Moreover, there has not been an announcement on the Bangkok governor election, he added.