Thai Election Commission Dismisses Complaints Against Pita for Holding Media Shares, But Investigation Continues

[webfact]

 

Bangkok, Thailand - The Thai Election Commission announced this evening, June 9th, 2023, that they have dismissed multiple complaints and petitions against Move Forward Party Leader and PM hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat around the holding of media shares, stating they were filed past the legal time limits for complaints.

 

However, Pita has a new and significant obstacle in his quest to become Thailand’s next Prime Minister as the Election Commission stated that they would proceed with an investigation into if Pita knowingly competed for PM while having the media shares and was aware that it could be a violation of Thai law, as well as Move Forward Party regulations.

 

Therefore, the issue is no longer the holding of the shares but rather if Pita knowingly competed.

 

If found guilty, Pita could face significant prison time and be disqualified.

 

By Adam Judd

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/06/09/thai-election-commission-dismisses-complaints-against-pita-for-holding-media-shares-but-investigation-continues/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-06-10

 

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[webfact]

The Election Commission decided to formally investigate Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat for intentionally applying for office despite being aware that he is not qualified.

If found guilty, Pita could face imprisonment and a voting ban.#Thailand #พิธา pic.twitter.com/r6Or0vdiPm

— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) June 9, 2023

[webfact]

EC dismisses media shareholding complaints against Move Forward party leader

 

 

Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has resolved unanimously to dismiss three complaints filed against Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, accusing him of holding 42,000 shares in iTV, a media company.

 

In rejecting the three complaints, one of them initiated by serial petitioner and political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, the EC explained that the complaints were lodged beyond the time limits and, as such, could not be accepted for consideration.

 

The EC also said, however, that there are factual and behavioural details in the complaints providing sufficient evidence to initiate a probe to determine whether Pita was fully aware that he was unqualified to contest the election when he registered his candidacy, which would constitute a violation of Sections 42 (3) and 154 of the MP Election Act.

 

Meanwhile, Pita told the media that he had not yet been notified by the EC about its ruling.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ec-dismisses-media-shareholding-complaints-against-move-forward-party-leader/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-06-10

 

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[KCPhuket]

Good news...<deleted> just drop it move forward!!

[Plern]

This is insane.

 

Every tart on the planet has an onlyfans, youtube, ig, tiktok, fb, etc... all likely incorporated and all *media companies*.

 

The filers of these complaints all have access to the internet, they all have the ability to send any message they wish to the entire world for only the cost of the production, hosting and connection. There is no barrier to entry.

[Classic Ray]

Very difficult to prove “knowingly” will depend on him either confessing or credible evidence from a witness that Pita admitted that he knew he was in the wrong.

[ukrules]

Dismissed with a little bit of face saving to spread around I suspect

[ikke1959]

very confusing.. drop all charges about mediashares, but running for PM knowingly he had media shares can put him in prison.....Do the EC know what they are doing or just try to find ways to prevent that Pita will be PM? 

[hotchilli]

31 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

very confusing.. drop all charges about mediashares, but running for PM knowingly he had media shares can put him in prison.....Do the EC know what they are doing or just try to find ways to prevent that Pita will be PM? 

I'm hoping this is a "sowing of the seed" that Pita is going to be PM

The time frame of the legal limits for complaints is a bit lame.

But an avenue for the EC to turn down the complaints.

Whether Pita is guilty of knowingly campaigned or registered to campaign knowing he had shares is another issue, yet I think slightly less worrying.

[hotchilli]

36 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

very confusing.. drop all charges about mediashares, but running for PM knowingly he had media shares can put him in prison.....Do the EC know what they are doing or just try to find ways to prevent that Pita will be PM? 

Or the EC giving Pita an avenue to say he didn't knowingly do it.. and allow him to continue?

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

would proceed with an investigation into if Pita knowingly competed for PM while having the media shares

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

there are factual and behavioural details in the complaints providing sufficient evidence to initiate a probe to determine whether Pita was fully aware that he was unqualified to contest the election when he registered his candidacy,

Complains not accepted because over time  limit , but complain details led to further investigation if Pita knew that he was not qualified to register because of the shares that had been transfered to somebody else by that time already ...

 

They WANT to find something to disqualify him by any means .

I hope they do not .

[chuang]

Out of the frying pan to the fire....

[sammieuk1]

Lets have a serial complainer to file a case against the EC to find out who they are how their funded and what dog is wagging their tail ????

[JoePai]

The Lord giveth and the Lord takes it away

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Or the EC giving Pita an avenue to say he didn't knowingly do it.. and allow him to continue?

Guess they're giving him the green light.

Though, I find the headline a bit confusing or even contradictory - they're dismissing complaints or possible charges, yet continuing to look into it deeper.....??

 

 

[Srikcir]

15 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

find out who they are how their funded and what dog is wagging their tail ????

Funded by the Thai Treasury (aka taxpayers) that has been in the hands of the Prayut military establishment since 2014. More like a dog's snout than a dog's tail.

[zzzzz]

i'd love to see things go smoothly for him , but i say the generals will not allow him to become the next PM>
to much Baht at stake

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, KCPhuket said:

Good news...<deleted> just drop it move forward!!

Therefore, the issue is no longer the holding of the shares but rather if Pita knowingly competed.

If found guilty, Pita could face significant prison time and be disqualified.

 

Good news that he could be disqualified and jailed? Really?

[Dan O]

Let the games begin! 

[bamnutsak]

Interesting twist.

 

But it will be impossible to prove intent, unless he left some sort of paper trail.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The EC also said, however, that there are factual and behavioural details in the complaints providing sufficient evidence to initiate a probe to determine whether Pita was fully aware that he was unqualified to contest the election when he registered his candidacy,

 

"Behavioral" details? Hmm.

 

 

They will not allow him to head a new government. 

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

41 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Guess they're giving him the green light.

Though, I find the headline a bit confusing or even contradictory - they're dismissing complaints or possible charges, yet continuing to look into it deeper.....??

 

 

.Seems clear enough to me. Separate charge: Therefore, the issue is no longer the holding of the shares but rather if Pita knowingly competed.

If they can't get him one way then they'll try another.

[thailand49]

The knowledge!

 

The swamp knowledge the land of stupidity.

[jesimps]

3 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

Very difficult to prove “knowingly” will depend on him either confessing or credible evidence from a witness that Pita admitted that he knew he was in the wrong.

I still can't figure why MFP, with all the legal brains at their disposal, failed to insist that Pita dump his shares before the election. They must've known that it was illegal and that Prayuth, the EC and Senate would jump on it. If I, with my small knowledge of Thai politics had know this before the vote, I'd have been screaming at him to get rid.

I feel sorry for my poor missus who naively still thinks he's going to be PM.

[h90]

3 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

Very difficult to prove “knowingly” will depend on him either confessing or credible evidence from a witness that Pita admitted that he knew he was in the wrong.

I read....can be wrong, I don't know, that he actually reported these shares himself.

[bannork]

I recall Pita saying he had informed the NACC about the inherited shares long ago.

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/move-forward-party-leader-not-worried-about-itv-shares-431064

[Enzian]

Taking the long view it's obvious that the electorate's dissatisfaction with the (mainly military) establishment, their distancing of themselves from it's history and implications, is not going away, and that all this intrigue will just drive them further away. The future is not on the side of the establishment.

No one knows haw this will end, but imo Pita has solid grounds to argue that he sincerely had reason to think the shares to be a non-issue.

[maxcorrigan]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Funded by the Thai Treasury (aka taxpayers) that has been in the hands of the Prayut military establishment since 2014. More like a dog's snout than a dog's tail.

Yes, and the snout(s) stuck deep in the money trough!

[spidermike007]

Notice to Prayuth, the toxic Thai army, the courts, and the election commission. Find Pita guilty, and disqualify or imprison him, at your own peril. The well being of you, your families, and the entire nation is at risk here. Choose carefully. Everything has changed, nothing is the same business as usual anymore, all moral authority is gone, and you are treading very, very dangerous ground.

 

 

 

[Denim]

Good cop , bad cop scenario.

 

Acquit him ( to show feigned impartiality ) but then nail him for something else.

 

It's not over until the fat lady sings.

 

I wish him luck

[bannork]

Other hurdles for Pita:

1 . Accused of advertising alcohol by stating his preference for a particular brand on Channel 3.

2. Accused of lese majeste for comments in a BBC interview.

Possible penalties- banned, jail time

Obstacles for MF:

1. Accused of undermining Thailand's constitutional monarchy by image of hammer and sickle in a cartoon poster

2. Accused of letting two banned members, Thanathorn and Piyabutr influence the party.

Penalties- dissolution of the party, executives banned from politics.