Panida explained the issue of being reported by former lawyer Natthawut, stressing that the appointment of Somchai to the parliamentary subcommittee was legally reviewed and no wrongdoing was found. She said they are awaiting documents from the police and noted that if the case is accepted, the party's legal team will be consulted to proceed further.
On 6 Sep 2026 at the Future Forward Building, Ms. Panida Mongkolsawat, MP for Samut Prakan and deputy spokesperson for the People’s Party, gave an interview regarding the case filed by former lawyer Natthawut Wongniam. The complaint was lodged against Ms. Panida and Mr. Parit Watcharasindhu, party list MP and deputy party leader of the People’s Party, on 4 Sep.
Ms. Panida said that earlier, a complaint was filed against her at Thung Song Hong Police Station, but she has not yet received any official documents from government agencies. She has publicly clarified the matter concerning Natthawut’s allegations against the parliamentary committee on courts, independent organizations, the attorney general’s office, state enterprises, public organizations, funds, and the House of Representatives. As chair of the subcommittee studying the electoral process for House members (2026) and Senate members (2024) under the independent organizations committee, she noted that Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, former Election Commission member, was appointed to the subcommittee. They have reviewed the legal aspects thoroughly and found that Somchai has not committed any wrongdoing as alleged, and parliamentary regulations do not specify any grounds for accusations against individuals appointed to subcommittees in this manner.
Ms. Panida added that she assures the public the appointment of Somchai was based on his knowledge and experience as a former Election Commissioner, with a strong understanding of legal regulations, which is why he was invited to serve. She believes the complaint documents lack grounds or allegations that warrant concern. They are waiting to see whether the police will issue a summons for testimony, and if the case is accepted, they will need to consider what actions to take, given the lack of cause but the case being filed.
Ms. Panida said they will consult with the party’s legal team first but personally does not wish to use legal means as a tool for political confrontation in cases where someone is dissatisfied with the subcommittee’s work. She understands that the motivation behind the complaint is unclear. Therefore, they must wait for the party’s legal team to review the content of the allegations. If a case is indeed filed, they will decide how to proceed.