The Secretary-General of the Prachachon Party apologized to the public regarding the former candidate for Maha Sarakham Constituency 1, who was sentenced by the court for rape. He stated this would be an important lesson for the party in future candidate selection decisions.
At 19:13 on 19 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Sarayut Jailak, Secretary-General of the Prachachon Party, spoke about the Supreme Court ruling convicting Mr. Theerawat Panna, a former candidate for Maha Sarakham Constituency 1 from the Prachachon Party, on charges of rape under the Criminal Code. As party management, he apologized to the public for what happened. Regarding the decision to field this candidate, the party had adhered to the principle of presuming innocence until a final conviction. Previously, the party relied on acquittals from the lower and appellate courts while the Supreme Court process was ongoing. However, following the Supreme Court's verdict, as party management, he admitted to an error in judgment in this serious case.
“This incident will serve as an important lesson for the Prachachon Party in future candidate selection processes, requiring us to apply ethical standards for politicians that exceed legal standards, to ensure public trust and confidence in our party. As Secretary-General and representative of the candidate selection committee, I take full responsibility for this mistake and apologize once again to the public and those affected by this candidate,” said Mr. Sarayut.