Bangkok: The committee investigating collusion in the selection of senators is set to conclude the case on July 17. It is expected that "Saewang" will assign the deputy secretary-general to give an opinion on his behalf because he is a person with a vested interest.
According to Thai News Agency, the 26th Central Investigation and Inquiry Committee of the EC Office, tasked with handling the collusion case in the selection of senators, has scheduled its final meeting on July 17. This date marks the end of the requested extension period, with no additional extension sought from the EC. The meeting is anticipated to finalize the case file, allowing the EC to act in accordance with the Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators 2018, specifically Section 77(1) in conjunction with Section 62, before forwarding it to the office for further steps.
As the case progresses to the second stage, investigators will analyze the situation and provide their opinions to key officials, including the director, deputy director, and the EC secretary-general. The EC regulations on investigation, inquiry, and adjudication 2018, amended in 2023, stipulate a 60-day timeframe for the secretary-general to order any additional investigation. It is reported that Mr. Sa-nguan Boonmee, the EC secretary-general, will delegate the task of providing an opinion to the EC deputy secretary-general due to his involvement as the director of the national senate election.
For the Subcommittee on Complaints and Controversies, which will review the case following the EC Secretary-General's process, there are currently 35 groups consisting of 5-7 members each. The EC is deliberating on whether to establish a special Subcommittee to handle this urgent case, which involves numerous defendants and related individuals. The Subcommittee, under its mandate, has a 90-day period, extendable if necessary, to conduct additional investigations and finalize its opinion before presenting it to the EC meeting for consideration.