Thai PBS Verify identified the source of information from: Facebook
Online media was found disseminating a clip alleging the apprehension of a major political party’s canvasser buying votes at 1,000 Baht per person. Nation Online published the footage with the following caption: “Watch this clearly. Phichit Election Commission raids and arrests a female canvasser of a major party for vote-buying at a thousand per head, caught with evidence in hand.” The clip was published on January 19, 2026, garnering over 4 million views, 54,000 likes and 7,200 shares.
However, the media later added information in the comments section stating that the clip in question was actually an old incident from 2023.
Subsequently, the media outlet provided additional information in the comments that the clip depicted an old incident from 2023.
Furthermore, the Nation website also published the case, stating that, “Urgent! Major party canvasser arrested for vote-buying in Phichit. EC arrests at residents.” The news content also specified that, “On January 19, 2026, it was reported that the Phichit Provincial Election Commission, with relevant officials, led a force to arrest election vote-buying in an area of Phichit Province.”
On the same day, the Nation website released a follow-up report, noting that the Phichit Provincial Election Commission clarified the vote-buying arrest clip. It stated that while the event did occur in Phichit Province, it was an incident from 2023 and is not a current event.
The clip shown of the arrest of the vote-canvasser in Phichit is old news from 2023
According to the investigation using the image verification tool Google Lens, it was found that the footage matches previous reports from Matichon and Bangkokbiznews, which identified the incident as the arrest of an assistant village headman for vote-buying back in 2023.
An investigation using the image verification tool Google Lens found that the footage matches reports from Matichon and Bangkokbiznews, which identified that the incident occurred in 2023.
Reports from Matichon and Bangkokbiz news identified the incident that occurred in 2023.
The event involved a group of people requesting a search of a 34-year-old woman, who served as an assistant village headman and election polling station committee member in Nong Sano sub-district, Sam Ngam district, Phichit province. The 34-year-old was suspected of distributing vote-buying money to residents near a local shop. A search revealed a list of names and cash intended for vote-buying, consisting of five 1,000-baht banknotes and eight 500-baht banknotes, totaling 9,000 baht. In the video, the suspect stated that she received the cash from a certain political party to distribute to villagers at 1,000 Baht per person. (More details in Thai at: https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/327739)
Phichit EC Confirms Clip is from 2023
Amorn Ratchatankun, Director of the Phichit Provincial Election Commission, confirmed to Thai PBS Verify that the clip depicts an event from 2023 and is not current. He also noted that following the initial proceedings, the case was under investigation and inquiry process of the Election Commission (EC). Ultimately, the EC resolved to dismiss the petition, citing insufficient evidence to prosecute the accused. Furthermore, the accused provided witnesses confirming she was neither a vote-canvasser nor involved in campaigning as alleged.
What is the truth?
Regarding the clip circulating on social media, which claimed the arrest of a major party canvasser for vote-buying in Phichit and presents it as a current event, verification has shown it was an old news footage from 2023. The situation of this footage led to public misunderstanding. The Phichit Provincial EC confirmed that the case had undergone a formal investigation, resulting in a dismissal given lack of incriminating evidence.
