iLaw Director Vows to Continue Releasing Evidence Amid Bhumjaithai Threats

ILaw director Yingcheep Atchanont has vowed to continue releasing evidence alleging manipulation of the 2024 Senate election, despite the ruling Bhumjaithai Party's threat to pursue legal action against him. His remarks followed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's rejection of Mr Yingcheep's call for the party to refrain from filing lawsuits. Mr Anutin insisted that those accused have the right to protect their reputations if they believe false information has been disseminated. Earlier this week, Mr Yingcheep submitted a petition to opposition chief whip Parit Wacharasindhu, seeking an inquiry into the alleged involvement of nine senior Bhumjaithai politicians in orchestrating irregularities in the election. Those named include Mr Anutin, Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, and several other cabinet ministers and senior party figures. In a Facebook post on Friday, Mr Yingcheep stated that more evidence is being prepared for public release. He claimed the scheme involved thousands of people, ranging from villagers allegedly hired to register and vote to organizers higher up the chain. He divided participants into three groups: loyal operatives, those who allegedly took part simply for payment, and those who knew the scheme was wrong and now regretted their involvement. He urged members of the latter two groups to provide evidence, promising to protect their identities. He also mentioned that a fund might be raised to reward whistleblowers who could provide useful documents, particularly financial records and evidence tracing money transfers. Mr Yingcheep alleged that payments to participants varied depending on their roles, ranging from several thousand baht for those involved only in the early rounds to substantially larger sums for those advancing further in the selection process. Government chief whip Korrawee Prissananantakul, one of the nine politicians named, rejected the allegations. He stated that scrutiny should be based on credible evidence rather than politically motivated accusations. He added that the allegation against him merely claimed one of his aides knew a Senate candidate and drove that person to register, and he could not see how that implicated him personally.