The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on Thursday found ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)’s MP Pareena Kraikupt guilty of severe ethical misconduct, resulting in the immediate revocation of her MP status, and a life ban from running for a political office and 10 years ban on political and election rights.
The verdict came after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) had found the ruling Palang Pracharath MP guilty of encroachment of 113.76 hectares of land in February last year.
The crime was deemed a conflict of interest as well as damaging the integrity of MPs, considered ethical violations.
The outspoken MP’s poultry farm had been found to be located on plots intended for landless farmers as well as encroaching into national forest reserves in Ratchaburi.
When the NACC ruled she was guilty last year, the 45-year-old politician appealed to the public via her Facebook, saying the land had been bought from other farmers.
The transaction as well as the farm operation and taxation were legitimate, she said.
Pareena, a former beauty pageant contestant, joined politics in 2005 and was initially with now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, which was founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, before moving to Chart Thai, Chartthaipattana, and then PPRP. She is known for her vocal criticism of opposition figures.
