The People’s Party, which came second in Thailand’s election, has filed a criminal complaint against nine election officials over alleged law violations

BANGKOK: Thailand’s reformist People’s Party has filed a criminal complaint against the nation’s election commissioners.

The party, which finished second in this month’s vote, accuses the officials of violating election laws.

Deputy party leader Wayo Assawarungruang said the case was submitted to a criminal court against seven election commissioners, the Election Commission’s secretary-general and another official.

“Two charges involve wrongful exercise of duties, and the last charge we claimed was about marking ballots with QR codes and barcodes which allow the votes to be traced and not kept secret as it should be,” Wayo told AFP.

The Election Commission confirmed the victory of caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s conservative Bhumjaithai party on Wednesday.

Bhumjaithai won 170 constituencies, the most of any party, while the People’s Party came in second with 88.

Some citizens and experts raised concerns that QR codes and barcodes found on ballots could be used to identify individual voters.

The commission said the markings were to ensure electoral security and prevent the use of fake ballots.

The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases will decide whether to hear the case by March 24.

If the court takes up the case, the nine officials face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and the loss of their political rights for a decade.

With no party winning an outright majority, Bhumjaithai and third-place Pheu Thai have agreed to form a coalition.

The progressive People’s Party has said it will be in the opposition.

Bhumjaithai had its best electoral performance ever, riding a wave of nationalism following deadly border clashes with Cambodia last year.

Pheu Thai, the party of jailed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, had its worst election result ever.

The two parties were previously coalition partners until Anutin pulled out in June.

Thailand’s next administration will need to tackle anaemic economic growth and manage fallout over multibillion-dollar cyberscam networks operating from the region.

 The Sun Malaysia