He is due to be brought to Phra Khanong Provincial Court today. She allegedly said she did not know how to vote, so she tore the ballot paper.Taew Pattha, 61, who was arrested in Si Sa Ket province, told police: "I saw the ballot's two sections, each in a different colour, so I tore them apart without knowing it was against the law." He has been charged with violating the Referendum Act, damaging someone else's property (punishable by up to three years in jail or a Bt60,000 fine) and damaging a state-issued document (punishable by up to five years in jail and/or a Bt10,000 fine)In Pathum Thani's Muang district, Yuwalee Wanpen, 66, was also arrested for tearing the ballot. She thought it was tearable, like an MP election ballot.In Chon Buri province, Boondej Jomkaew, 67, of Sattahip district, and Waew Yodkhao, 70, of Sri Racha, were also arrested for tearing ballots.Similar problems occurred with retired official Muang Noonpakdee, 89, of Kanchanaburi's Muang district, Paiboon Suparat, 54, of Nakhon Sawan's Muang district, and Ngid Klaipaen, 76, of Nakhon Sawan's Lat Yao district.Also arrested for the same alleged offence were Sangwee Jantapol, 81, of Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang district, and hill-tribe woman Rattanaporn Jenjob-eiumla-or, 21.Rattanaporn was arrested in Tha Song Yang in Tak province. He said all stations had functioned rather well and officials at the stations were instructed to inform voters aged over 50 about the steps needed to be taken in casting ballots, to prevent them from unknowingly tearing ballots.Bangkok police chief Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn said he would consult with the Election Commission on whether four people who tore up ballots in Bangkok would face legal action.Sanit said they were senior citizens who misunderstood that the ballot should not be torn.Pipat Paesuwannarak, 69, of Thung Khru district, Sophon Chutimanon, 75, from Bang Phlat, Somkiat Kriengkrai, 78, from Phra Khanong, and Molruedee Amsakulwas, 54, of Bang Na, were arrested.Pipat, Sophon and Molruedee were released pending further probes.Somkiat was held in custody and charged with three offences.

Source: The Nation Bangkok August 07, 2016 17:15 UTC