The authenticity of a leaked Line chat alleging political interference in Phuket has been questioned after an Interior Ministry review found numerous errors, including names that did not match official election records.
Interior Ministry sources said the screenshot was purportedly a conversation between Narucha Kosacivilize, director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, and Phuket deputy governor Roongruang Thimabut.
It contained a list of political candidates and their popularity across constituencies, along with an instruction from a senior official to "help the blue", a colour associated with the Bhumjaithai Party. The sources said a review comparing the names listed in the chat with Election Commission candidate records found numerous inconsistencies across multiple constituencies.
