The Supreme Court dismissed the case filed by Surapol Kiatchaiyakorn, former Chiang Mai MP from the Pheu Thai Party, against the Election Commission demanding 70 million baht. His lawyers noted contradictory facts and intend to petition the Supreme Court plenary session for justice. Surapol himself declined to comment.
On 10 March 2026 at Hod District Court, Chiang Mai Province, The Supreme Court ruled to dismiss the case in which Surapol Kiatchaiyakorn, former Chiang Mai MP from the Pheu Thai Party, sued the Office of the Election Commission and the Election Commission itself for damages totaling about 70 million baht including interest. The case involved allegations of tort arising from the Election Commission issuing a warning (yellow card) and banning Surapol from voting for one year after a complaint regarding his donation of a 2,000 baht envelope for a merit-making event on his birthday during the 2019 general election. The Supreme Court reasoned that the Election Commission did not act out of personal ill will toward Surapol and that its actions were within its lawful authority as a government agency.
Surapol's legal team said after hearing the verdict that the case contains contradictions compared to a prior election case judgment. The Supreme Court Election Division previously dismissed the Election Commission's request to revoke Surapol's voting rights, ruling that attending a merit-making event was not a violation of election law. However, in this civil tort case, the court ruled the Election Commission acted in good faith performing its duties. The legal team sees these conflicting views on the same facts and plans to pursue legal steps, including petitioning the Supreme Court plenary session to seek justice or explore other legal avenues.
The case originated in the 2019 election when Surapol won the Chiang Mai District 8 seat with 52,165 votes, leading by over 25,000 votes. However, the Election Commission issued a warning and banned him from voting for one year over a complaint about his 2,000 baht donation envelope for a birthday merit-making ceremony. Later, the Supreme Court Election Division ruled that Surapol was not at fault and was following tradition. Surapol then claimed the order was unlawful and caused damage to his reputation and political rights, so he sued the Election Commission for damages of about 70 million baht including interest. The trial court ruled in his favor.
The appeal court upheld the ruling but reduced the compensation to 56 million baht plus interest, totaling 62 million baht. However, today the Supreme Court overturned the case, dismissing it. Surapol's legal team plans to petition the Supreme Court plenary session on this matter, believing that after more than seven years of litigation through two courts, there remains a path to seek justice.
Surapol, who attended the verdict in person, briefly said, "I have no comments regarding this matter and will abide by the court's decision." .