(File photo: Government House)The Constitutional Court has cleared former cabinet ministers Phumtham Wechayachai and Tawee Sodsong of ethical breaches in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities in the 2024 Senate election. The senators also asked the court to decide whether the two ministers’ actions met the criteria for termination of their ministerial status. Mr Phumtham was deputy prime minister and defence minister, and Pol Col Tawee was justice minister when the complaint was filed last year. It later became a special case after the Election Commission indicated that a criminal investigation into certain aspects of the case — including alleged money laundering — would be outside its authority. The final vote in the three-stage Senate election on June 26, 2024 produced highly unusual results, notably a disproportionate number of winners from provinces where Bhumjaithai is strong electorally.

Source: Bangkok Post January 21, 2026 13:33 UTC