Two suspects arrested for burning two election campaign posters of pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) said they were drunk at the time.
One was a poster with the image of PPRP election candidate Thitiphat Chotdechachaianan, which was put up near Seri Thai Soi 1 in the capital. It was destroyed on Tuesday.
Another poster featuring PPRP member Kraisoem Tothapthiang was also damaged, just two hours after it was placed between Soi 37 and 38 off Rat Burana Road in the Thon Buri area last Friday.
According to testimony to police, the two said they were under the influence of alcohol and not linked with [political] groups," city police chief city police chief Sutthiphong Wongpin said.
Jarungvith: Says vandals face jail
One suspect known only as Noraphan, 22, said he had consumed too many drinks and didn't intend to set fire to the poster.
Police investigators are looking for political links but haven't found any.
"If drunken behaviour is the cause, they will still be charged with damaging assets," Pol Lt Gen Sutthiphong said.
However, the city police chief admitted that vandalism can be carried out for other reasons.
In a related development, anti-coup Thai Raksa Chart election candidate Khunkamonphat Pungbangkadi yesterday lodged a complaint with police after her poster was also vandalised. Her party could not think of other motives than a "political reason", she said.
Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said wrongdoers will face legal action.
Thai Raksa Chart deputy spokeswoman Aruni Kasayanon is convinced that it was a political attack.
"We believe it's political because posters of rival parties placed on the opposite site of a same road were not damaged," she said.
Election Commission secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said vandalising posters will incur three-year imprisonment, a fine of up to 6,000 baht or both.
"The problem is damage to the election atmosphere," he said.
