Police are investigating whether an academic caught defacing Pheu Thai campaign posters was acting on behalf of a rival political party.
Furby takes Judy’s place
A Furby toy is placed on the desk reserved for Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, Bangkok governor candidate No. 9 of the Pheu Thai Party, whose nickname is Judy, at Sripatum University yesterday.He failed to attend a session to showcase his vision. Other candidates includingMR Sukhumbhand Paribatra from the Democrat Party and independent Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves and Kosit Suwinitjit, took part.
Haruethai Saithong, 45, was found vandalising posters promoting the Pheu Thai Party candidate for governor, Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen.
A police patrol on Wednesday night arrested Mr Haruethai, 45 in front of Lad Phrao Soi 45.
Mr Haruethai was found with stickers bearing messages attacking Pheu Thai and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Police said Mr Haruethai, from Chiang Mai, was found "snooping around" the posters. Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrachang said yesterday police found many stickers with messages attacking the Pheu Thai candidate in Mr Haruethai's bag.
He said officers were investigating whether Mr Haruethai had been paid to commit acts of vandalism.
Mr Haruethai was accused of violating Section 57 of the Local Administrators Act 2002 which bans people from defaming candidates. If convicted, he could be jailed up to 10 years or fined 20,000-100,000 baht.
Mr Haruethai told police he was working alone and that no one had hired him to put the stickers on the Pheu Thai Party's campaign posters. He said he printed the stickers at his office after work hours.
Some stickers read "We do not vote for an image-making governor".
He is an academic at the Bangkok 2 Educational Service Area Office of the Ministry of Education.
Mr Haruethai said he had made the stickers over the past four to five days and started to attach them on Wednesday night.
He said he did not belong to any party, but he hated the ruling party and wanted to send a message to the people. He said he was aware the act was illegal.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party would discuss the matter with Pol Gen Pongsapat before filing any complaint.
He also said he believed Mr Haruethai was hired by someone and asked the police to speed up the investigation to find out who else was involved.
However, Pol Gen Pongsapat told reporters yesterday he did not feel any ill will toward Mr Haruethai and he would not take any legal action against the academic.