Election Commission files ITV shares lawsuit against Pita

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE ELECTION COMMISSION today (July 12) resolved to file an MP-disqualifying lawsuit against Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat.

The commissioners reached the unanimous decision to submit the case to the Constitutional Court without giving Pita the opportunity to testify before an investigating committee of the polling agency.

In the meantime, the commissioners are proposing for the Constitutional Court to order Pita to immediately stop performing as MP pending a court verdict on the case.

The prime minister-designate has been accused by the polling agency of holding a tiny fragment of 42,000 shares accounting for 0.0035% of non-operating ITV channel whilst Pita has invariably dismissed the allegation saying he did by no means possess those inherited shares which he claimed to have merely held as manager.

Electoral candidates may be disqualified by law if found to hold shares of any media firms.

Meanwhile, the Move Forward sent a protest note to the commissioners charging them of having obviously neglected their duty by denying the lawful chance for the accused to defend himself in an otherwise testimony before the fact-finding panel.

For that matter, the Move Forward protest note says legal action may be taken against the commissioners on duty-negligence charges.

It remains to be seen how soon the Constitutional Court will proceed with the contentious case against the Move Forward leader who is scheduled for tomorrow to be named and voted for prime minister in a joint House/Senate meeting.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the former Future Forward leader, had engaged in similar legal battles which finally resulted in the Constitutional Court’s verdict to ban him and the then-members of the progressive party’s executive board from politics for a 10-year time and dissolve the party which has practically resurrected as the Move Forward.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Move Forward leader/prime minister designate Pita Limjaroenrat next to an Election Commission notice that it is filing ITV shares case against him at the Constitutional Court. Photo: Matichon

Front Page: Move Forward leader/prime minister designate Pita Limjaroenrat at a thank you rally recently. Photo: Thai Rath

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