Nine years after Thailand introduced its 2017 “anti-corruption constitution,” politicians have been imprisoned, prime ministers removed, lawmakers disqualified, and political parties dissolved.
Major convictions: Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra received a five-year prison sentence over the rice-pledging program. Former ministers Boonsong Teriyapirom and Poom Sarapol were convicted in the rice sales corruption case. Both cases originated before the 2017 Constitution.
Former Prime Ministers Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra were removed through constitutional rulings, not criminal corruption convictions.
Thaksin’s hospital case: In September 2025, the Supreme Court ordered Thaksin Shinawatra to serve one year in prison over unlawful sentence enforcement during his hospitalization. Three doctors faced professional sanctions.
Bhumjaithai: Saksayam Chidchob lost his ministerial position over business-related constitutional restrictions. Anutin Charnvirakul and Newin Chidchob were investigated in connection with the 2024 Senate selection, but the Election Commission decided not to pursue cases against their group.
Parliament: Pichet Chuamuangphan received a ten-year electoral candidacy ban. Pareena Kraikupt and Thanikan Pornpongsaroj received lifetime bans, while Anurak Tangpanithanon received a six-year prison sentence in a bribery case.
Political parties: Future Forward was dissolved in 2020, disqualifying affected executives, including Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, for ten years. Move Forward was dissolved in 2024, with 11 executives receiving similar bans.
Another 44 former Move Forward MPs face pending ethics proceedings. Separately, the Election Commission resolved to pursue proceedings involving 77 people over the Senate selection.
These two cases involve 121 distinct individuals, not 121 convicted offenders.
Two former anti-corruption commissioners, Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit and Supa Piyajitti, also received three-year trial-court sentences in 2026, subject to appeal.
Cases to Watch: November 2026–June 2027
The 44-MP ethics case has hearings scheduled through May 2027. The Senate selection proceedings remain under legal review.
A separate Shin Corporation tax case names Supa Piyajitti, Sathit Rungkasiri, and Sutthichai Sangkhamanee as defendants over an alleged failure to appeal a tax judgment involving approximately 17.9 billion baht.
No final judgment dates within June 2027 are confirmed for these cases.
The Bigger Question
Thailand’s Corruption Perceptions Index score declined from 37 in 2017 to 33 in 2025. This measures perceived corruption, not the Constitution’s effectiveness directly.
Thailand has demonstrated mechanisms for punishing individuals. Whether coordinated corruption networks can be held accountable depends on evidence linking decision-makers, beneficiaries, and officials.
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Vihok News English
Sources: Election Commission | Thai PBS | Transparency International
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