Voters tear ballots in 18 provinces

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (TNA) – There are reports of tearing ballots in Sunday’s referendum in 18 provinces including Bangkok, mostly unintentionally. A man, identified as Piyarat Chingthep, wearing a NO-Coup T-shirt, went to a polling unit in Bang-Na district and tore the ballot paper. He said he was fully conscious and did not take any alcoholic drink. Other reported cases are mostly involved the elderly, who were not aware that tearing ballot papers are illegal. They thought their ballot cards must be torn into two pieces before putting them into ballot boxes. Tearing ballot paper is an offence, punishable by up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of 20,000 baht. If investigators find violators have no intention to do so, the case can be dismissed. (TNA)