The Election Commission (EC) has released its ruling explaining the dismissal of complaints against "Senator Daeng," a pork vendor, and "Senator Somphan," a chicken noodle seller, after verifying that both fully meet the qualifications to serve as senators.
On 29 Jul 2026 GMT+7, the Election Commission (EC) published its ruling dismissing complaints against Mr. Somphan Palasak and Ms. Daeng Kongma, two senators from Amnat Charoen province, accused of lacking qualifications to run for Senate. The EC ruling No. 249/2024 dated Monday, 23 Dec 2024 GMT+7, regarding the national Senate election, states that Ms. Daeng, eligible at the national level in Group 10 (engaged in other businesses aside from medium and small enterprises under relevant laws), number 24, was accused of lacking qualifications for selling pork without a business license since 1998. The EC investigation found that Ms. Daeng has sold pork at the private Wichit Sin market in Mueang district, Amnat Charoen, since 1997 and has been a committee member developing the fresh market since 2004 to present. The market owner and three vendors signed to confirm and testify her experience exceeds ten years. No evidence was found to prove any legal violations as alleged. Therefore, the facts do not support claims that Ms. Daeng committed any illegal acts as per the complaint.
Regarding Mr. Somphan, the EC ruling No. 17/2025 dated Monday, 13 Jan 2025 GMT+7, concerning the national Senate election, states that Mr. Somphan, eligible at the national level in Group 10, number 99, was accused similarly of lacking qualifications for selling bitter melon chicken noodle soup for 12 years without a business license, which requires at least 10 years of relevant expertise or work experience. The EC reasoned that their investigation found Mr. Somphan has operated the noodle shop "Pook Fish Ball Noodles" since 4 Jun 2009, as evidenced by a business registration issued by the Department of Business Development on the same date. Three of Mr. Somphan’s witnesses corroborated that he has sold noodles continuously since 2009 to present, with multiple branches in Mueang district, Amnat Charoen. No evidence was found proving any legal violations as alleged. Therefore, the facts do not support the claim that Mr. Somphan committed any illegal acts as per the complaint.
Reporters noted that the EC’s disclosure of this ruling followed a call by Yingcheep Atchanont, project manager of Internet Law for People (iLaw), demanding the release of detailed EC rulings that had dismissed complaints nearly two years earlier against Mr. Somphan Palasak and Ms. Daeng Kongma. Both were accused of lacking qualifications for Senate Group 10 candidacy, which involves other businesses besides medium and small enterprises under the law. Afterward, Mr. Somphan and Ms. Daeng announced plans to file legal complaints against Yingcheep for causing public confusion, defamation, and damage to their reputation.
