Thanathorn, other former Future Forward Party officials, are facing criminal charges

16 people from the dissolved Future Forward Party, including the former leader Thanathorn Juangroonruangkit, could face criminal charges pressed by the Election Commission for a large donation that exceeds the maximum allowed under the Political Parties Act. The timing of the politically-charged legal action coincides with a peak of anti-government protest activity.

The 191 million baht loan, which exceeds the limit of 10 million baht per donor per year, led the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Future Forward Party back in February. The Court also ordered the party’s executive MPs be stripped of their parliamentary status and banned from politics for 10 years.

Thanathorn, who is accused of making the large donation to the party, could face a charge under Section 66 of the Political Parties Act which limits donations to 10 million baht per donor per year, a source told the Bangkok Post. If he’s found guilty, Thanathorn could spend up to 5 years in prison and a fine of 100,000 baht. He could also be banned from political activity for another 5 years.

15 other former members of the Future Forward Party, including former secretary general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and spokesperson Pannika Wanich, could face charges for dealing with funds from illegitimate sources, the source told the Bangkok Post. The violation holds a maximum penalty of 3 years in jail and a fine of 1 million baht.

The 191 million baht loan could also be seized and there has been talk that it could be given to the Political Party Development Fund.

The Future Forward Party had gained a large following, especially among young voters who were attracted to the progressive political policies. The party garnered the third highest number of votes in the March 2019 election, after less than a year in existence. Thanathorn says he supports the recent pro-democracy movement which is calling on government and monarchy reform as well as a rewrite of the 2017 Constitution. Activists are also pushing PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign.

Thanathorn, also a staunch critic of Thailand’s military, ran for prime minster against Prayut last year. Prayut, a former army general who led the 2014 military coup, beat Thanathorn with 500 to 244 parliament votes. Half of Prayut’s votes came from senators who were appointed by the military junta National Council for Peace and Order, or NCPO.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post