Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Nakornchai Khunnarong has submitted a resignation letter based on his conviction for theft in 1999. The Election Commission (EC) is to set the date for a by-election.

On 3 August 2023, Nakornchai sent submitted his resignation letter to the EC through a Party official, leaving 498 members in the lower house.

According to the Election Law, a by-election must be held within 45 days, i.e. by 16 September. The EC is expected to meet this week to schedule the dates for candidate registration and the by-election.

Nakornchai admitted that he was jailed in a theft case in 1999. His account is that he found a wristwatch while partying with his friends. When the police came, his friend confessed to stealing it. Despite Nakornchai’s denial, he was taken into custody along with his friend.

He was sentenced to three years but due to his confession, this was reduced to one year and six months. He believes that the crime for which he was convicted did not constitute an offence as stipulated in the Election Law and did not disqualify him as an MP.

Nakornchai said he will defend himself against the charge of running for MP despite knowing that he was ineligible under Section 151 of the Election Law, which states that anyone who runs for MP despite knowing that they are ineligible will face a maximum prison term of ten years and banishment from politics for up to 20 years.

Apart from the criminal penalties under Section 151 of the Election Law, Nakornchai may be held responsible for the expenses incurred in conducting a by-election, according to Section 420 of the Civil and Commercial Code, according to EC Chair Ittiporn Boonprakong.