A former MP from the dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP) has been sentenced to prison for violating the election law on the grounds that he ran in the 2023 general election knowing that he was ineligible due to a criminal case from 1999. The former MP was banned from running for political office for 20 years.

Nakornchai Khunnarong, former MFP MP for Rayong’s 3rd Constituency was sentenced to two years in prison for running for election despite knowing that he was not eligible and giving false information to an official. He was also banned from running for political office for 20 years, according to Khaosod.

Due to his guilty plea, the sentence was reduced to one year in prison.

The Court also ordered him to repay the position allowance and other additional benefits received during his tenure as an MP.

In addition, on 3 March, the Civil Court ordered him to reimburse more than 8 million baht for the cost of holding a by-election.

In 2023, the Election Commission of Thailand took legal action against Narongchai after it was found that he was previously convicted of theft.

Nakornchai later explained that the incident took place in October 1999 when he was 20 years old.

He was partying with friends and noticed a wristwatch placed on a table. He picked it up and asked who the owner was. The police came to the scene. His friend confessed to stealing the wristwatch, but he denied it. He was taken into custody and given a confession to sign.

At the time, Nakornchai was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. He believed 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.

He later resigned from the position.

A by-election took place following Nakornchai’s resignation, in which the MFP candidate Pongsathon Sornphetnarin won against a depleted field.