The Supreme Court's Election Case Division ruled to revoke the election candidacy rights of Nimnuan Prukpanyakul, a Buriram Senate candidate, for 10 years after she submitted false educational qualifications and never served as a government official as claimed.
Reporters noted that on 16 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the Supreme Court issued a notice signed by Sonchai Sirariyakul, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court panel. The notice states that in election case number Lat Saw 6/2569 and red case number Lat Saw 70/2569, involving the Election Commission (petitioners) Nimnuan Prukpanyakul (Buriram Senate candidate) the respondent, concerning the Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senate Members (request to revoke election candidacy rights).
The Supreme Court has ruled to revoke the election candidacy rights of Nimnuan Prukpanyakul, the respondent, for 10 years from the date of the judgment.
This announcement is made public for general knowledge.
Announced on 16 September 2026 GMT+7.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's Election Case Division has published the judgment in this case regarding the qualifications about educational credentials and government service. The respondent did not file any objection. The summary states that after reviewing the case file and hearing evidence, it was found that on 22 May 2024 GMT+7, the respondent applied to run as a Senate member, group 13, Stuk District, Buriram Province. On the application form (S.W.2), she declared her highest educational qualification as a bachelor's degree in science major from Buriram Teachers College, and in the candidate's introduction form (S.W.3) she stated a bachelor's degree from Buriram Teachers College. Regarding work history or experience, she stated having government service, supported by documents R.1 pages 234 and 239. The petitioner appointed an investigation committee for Buriram province, team 2, per Election Commission order 1004/2567 dated 23 May 2024 GMT+7, to investigate the national Senate election case of the respondent, documented in R.1 pages 183 to 187.
The issue to decide is whether the respondent committed election fraud that caused the election not to be fair and honest, warranting the Supreme Court to revoke her candidacy or voting rights under Section 226 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand and Section 62 of the 2018 Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senate Members. It was found from the investigation documents R.1 that Buriram Rajabhat University sent letter number อว 0624.10/137 dated 16 Jan 2025 GMT+7 to the petitioner, confirming the respondent graduated with a Higher Education Certificate in General Science on 12 May 1979 from Buriram Rajabhat University—equivalent to a diploma-level qualification, per documents R.1 pages 327 and 28. Additionally, Stuk School sent letter ศธ 04313.51/19 dated 13 Jan 2025 GMT+7 to the petitioner confirming the respondent was a contract teacher at Stuk School teaching science from 1980 to 1981, totaling 2 years, using the Higher Education Certificate in General Science to apply for this position, as shown in documents R.1 pages 321 to 325.
The respondent also gave explanatory testimony to the Buriram Province Investigation Committee team 2 on 21 Feb 2025 GMT+7, admitting she graduated with a Higher Education Certificate in General Science from Buriram Teachers College, which later became Buriram Rajabhat University. This qualification is equivalent to a diploma level. She did not graduate with a bachelor's degree in science and never served as a government official, only working as a contract teacher at Stuk School, Stuk District, Buriram Province, between 1980 and 1981, as documented in R.1 pages 357 to 360.
The facts establish that the respondent holds a diploma-level qualification in science from Buriram Teachers College and never served as a government official. Her declaration on the Senate candidacy application (S.W.2) that she held a bachelor's degree in science from Buriram Teachers College, and the information in the candidate introduction (S.W.3) stating a bachelor's degree and government service, are false. This constitutes seeking unlawful benefit for herself and is considered election fraud, causing the Senate election to lack fairness and honesty, under Section 226 of the Constitution and Section 62 of the 2018 Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senate Members.
The court orders the revocation of Nimnuan Prukpanyakul's right to run in elections for 10 years from the date of this judgment.