A profile of Supachai Phosu, who has been permanently barred from politics after a court ruling revoked his political rights over a 220-rai landholding in Dong Phathai Forest, Nakhon Phanom province, closing the chapter on the "Sahai Saeng" of the Blue Camp.
Another political era ends as on 11 June 2026, the Supreme Court ruled to revoke the political rights of Supachai Phosu, former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, for life. He is permanently barred from holding any political office and had his voting rights stripped for 10 years due to possession of 220 rai of land in Dong Phathai Forest, Nakhon Phanom. This ruling immediately ends the political career of "Kru Kaew."
Supachai Phosu, also known as Kru Kaew, formerly "Sahai Saeng," is currently 68 years old. He was born and raised in Ban Khae, Sam Phong Subdistrict, Si Songkhram District, Nakhon Phanom province. He is married to Mrs. Punsuk Phosu, former Deputy Chairwoman of the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization. They have a daughter, Ms. Supapanee Phosu, who serves as a Member of Parliament for Nakhon Phanom.
Supachai comes from a poor farming family, struggling daily to make ends meet but never abandoning his education. After completing Mathayom 3 (grade 9) at Saharat Rangsarit School in Si Songkhram, where he was part of the 10th class, he pursued teacher training at Sakon Nakhon Teachers College under the Poksor (teacher training and professional development) program. However, driven by political ideals and a desire to fight for democracy during the communist people's war around 1976, he dropped out and joined the forest guerrilla movement with the Red Star comrades in the red zone of Na Kae District, Nakhon Phanom. After nearly four years without success, he left the forest, resumed studies, completed his training, and became a government teacher around 1981. Despite this, he maintained his political ideals, working as a rural teacher and a paid boatman, while leading the Nakhon Phanom Democracy Federation and teacher activists. He eventually became a school principal in Tha Uthen District, Nakhon Phanom, around 1986.
After 1992's Black May uprising, when General Suchinda Kraprayoon was ousted as prime minister following violent clashes between the military, police, and citizens, and Anand Panyarachun became prime minister again before subsequent elections, Supachai (Kru Kaew) resigned from government teaching to enter politics under the Palang Dharma Party but failed to win. Later, he was recruited by General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to run for MP for Nakhon Phanom with the New Aspiration Party in 2001, winning by a landslide and launching his national political career.
In 2002, after the New Aspiration Party merged with Thai Rak Thai under Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he joined Thai Rak Thai and served as MP for three consecutive terms. When the People's Power Party was dissolved in 2008, he switched to the Bhumjaithai Party, founded by Newin Chidchob, and was appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives from 2009 to 2011 during the administration of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party.,Amid political attacks accusing him of trading his loyalty for positions, he suffered electoral defeat in 2011 to a candidate from the Pheu Thai Party.,Despite the rising popularity of the Red Shirt movement, he faced two consecutive electoral defeats.
Nevertheless, he continued his political activism by engaging with local communities and advocating his political ideals through nearly eight years during the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) military rule. In the 2019 election, he made a surprising comeback, defeating the incumbent Pheu Thai candidate to reclaim the Nakhon Phanom 1 constituency seat for Bhumjaithai with a strong personal mandate. Following this victory, he collaborated with the ruling coalition, including the Palang Pracharath Party, which brought Bhumjaithai into government. Subsequently, Supachai (Kru Kaew) was appointed the Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. During his tenure, he presided over parliamentary sessions, including heated government impeachment debates with Seri Phisut Temiyavet, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party and known as the "Na Kae Hero." Kru Kaew publicly acknowledged his past as a "Sahai Saeng," a former communist party member and Thai Nation Development Group participant, expressing readiness to confront the Na Kae Hero again in politics.
In 2024, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found Supachai guilty of serious ethical violations during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and MP for Nakhon Phanom. He was found to have illegally held and exploited land titles (Nor Sor 2 or land reservation documents) for 40 plots totaling 220 rai in the Dong Phathai forest land allocation project in Tha Uthen District, Nakhon Phanom. He purchased the land without proper reservation documents despite being ineligible for such allocation.
As a result, Supachai abstained from running in the 2026 election for the Nakhon Phanom MP seat under the Bhumjaithai Party, instead endorsing his daughter as a candidate while awaiting the Supreme Court's ruling. On 11 June 2026, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict (case number black docket), stating the 220-rai land was intended to assist poor citizens and farmers. His actions constituted exploitation without regard for legality, honesty, or trustworthiness. Consequently, the court permanently revoked Supachai's eligibility to run for office or hold any political position and suspended his voting rights for 10 years from the date of the ruling.