Former Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Uttama Savanayana has been spared from punishment for certifying Sira Jenjaka, a former PPRP MP for Bangkok, to run in the 2019 general election despite his previous conviction, said a source citing an Election Commission (EC) resolution yesterday.
Mr Sira was disqualified as an MP by the Constitutional Court after it came to light that he had been convicted for fraud by the Pathumwan District Court back in 1995, for which he was sentenced to eight months in jail.
In response to a petition filed against Mr Uttama by activist Srisuwan Janya on Dec 28, the EC ruled Mr Uttama -- now leader of the newly-established Sang Anakhot Thai Party -- was not liable for certifying a candidate who was later disqualified.
It said the former PPRP leader was at that time "obliged by the power of Order No.13/2561 of the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] to approve the party's selection of Mr Sira", said the source.
Obliged by the order to certify all of the party's election candidates in the last general election, Mr Uttama in that case cannot be held responsible for approving the PPRP's decision to field Mr Sira in the election, said the source, citing reasons given by the EC for its ruling.
Under Sections 117 and 120 of the organic law on elections, party leaders, executives and all others involved in the fielding of an ineligible candidate, as in Mr Sira's case, can face up to five years in prison and/or a maximum fine of 100,000 baht, plus a five-year election ban.