Ruangkrai Leekitwattana: The political giant-killer aiming to chop down PM hopeful Pita

[webfact]

 

Known as “Jack the giant slayer” for his role in bringing down then-prime minister Samak Sundaravej in 2008, serial petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has now set his sights on Pita Limjaroenrat.

 

Ruangkrai has triggered legal challenges that threaten to detonate the Move Forward Party leader’s bid to become Thailand’s next prime minister. Pita and his eight-party coalition say that as head of the election-winning party, the top role is rightfully his.

 

Ruangkrai asked the Election Commission (EC) last Tuesday to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on Pita’s eligibility to be an MP. His latest move came after the EC rejected his earlier petition to investigate whether Pita’s shareholding in media company iTV Plc violated constitutional rules on running for political office.

 

The agency dismissed his complaint on grounds that it was filed just four days before the election when the legal deadline had already passed. But the EC did go ahead with an investigation to determine if Pita had contested the poll despite being aware that he was not qualified to run. This would be a violation of electoral law, penalized by a jail term of one to 10 years, a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 baht, and revocation of electoral rights for 20 years.

 

Former boss not exempted

 

Ruangkrai, 61, earned the label “serial petitioner” after years of filing complaints against political and bureaucratic officeholders – including his ex-boss, former auditor general Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ruangkrai-leekitwattana-the-political-giant-killer-aiming-to-chop-down-pm-hopeful-pita/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-06-26

 

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[BenStark]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

serial petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana

Serial clown

[seajae]

look at me look at me, what a total cretin this idiot is, just wants to be in the spot light, has the brains of a flea and does what ever he is told/paid to do

[bannork]

25 minutes ago, BenStark said:

Serial clown

Serial hand for hire

[bannork]

Some more background to the man who luckily has two 'kind adults' looking after him 

https://www.thaienquirer.com/31648/opinion-turn-coat-mp-going-after-move-forward-party-is-biggest-irony/

[bendejo]

Does this guy have loads of $$$, or is someone else paying for this and if so, who?

 

 

[bamnutsak]

Someone should file a Defamation suit against this clown.

 

Why does have any standing? Why are his complaints considered legitimate?

 

 

[h90]

28 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Someone should file a Defamation suit against this clown.

 

Why does have any standing? Why are his complaints considered legitimate?

 

 

maybe you should read the law....because shares of media companies aren't allowed. And iTV is registered as media company. If it is not working anymore and the shares are too minor to be a problem is a question the courts must find out. So the question must be asked.

[ChrisY1]

He claims Samak' downfall?..Well, kudos for that....but in reality, he's just a serial nuisance causing financial and time wasting to so many.

But..Prawit likes him!

[bannork]

32 minutes ago, h90 said:

maybe you should read the law....because shares of media companies aren't allowed. And iTV is registered as media company. If it is not working anymore and the shares are too minor to be a problem is a question the courts must find out. So the question must be asked.

There are precedents for both situations already 

In 2020 the Constitutional Court dismissed 51 or was it 59? cases of MPs holding shares in media companies because it was deemed such companies were no longer operating in the media field.

More recently, the Supreme Court dismissed a case against a Democrat MP for possessing 200 AIS shares. The number was deemed insufficient to affect company policy 

Now how many shares in ITV did Pita have as trustee of his father's estate? Something like 0.0135% if I recall correctly 

 

[huangnon]

Need to also have a close look at the media outlets giving this clown the oxygen of publicity and legitimacy.

[h90]

10 minutes ago, bannork said:

There are precedents for both situations already 

In 2020 the Constitutional Court dismissed 51 or was it 59? cases of MPs holding shares in media companies because it was deemed such companies were no longer operating in the media field.

More recently, the Supreme Court dismissed a case against a Democrat MP for possessing 200 AIS shares. The number was deemed insufficient to affect company policy 

Now how many shares in ITV did Pita have as trustee of his father's estate? Something like 0.0135% if I recall correctly 

 

Yes than the courts will dismiss it....but it is legit to bring it to the attention of the courts/EC.

[BenStark]

I think this clown is doing a great job, if you have a look at the dollar/baht exchange rate.

 

The dollar didn't have a significant increase in value in the USD index in the past week, but has strengthened by 1.55% against the baht in the same period.

 

I only can assume that international investors are watching the ongoing clown show, and are voting with their money

[dinsdale]

10 minutes ago, h90 said:

Yes than the courts will dismiss it....but it is legit to bring it to the attention of the courts/EC.

The thing is the CC and EC aren't exatly legit now are they. Set up by a military junta posing as a govt.

[h90]

44 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

The thing is the CC and EC aren't exatly legit now are they. Set up by a military junta posing as a govt.

They are legit......And the last government was elected, Prayut won the popular vote and there was a referendum about the constitution....

That is way better than most countries as most political systems came into power by illegal means....(The American Revolution was also illegal).

So courts and EC are legal.

If that is not accepted the society will be complete lawless as everyone will find some reason why laws are not lawful (I am Libertarian, I would be OK with it if I have something like the 2nd Amendment, but most people want laws) 

[h90]

57 minutes ago, BenStark said:

I think this clown is doing a great job, if you have a look at the dollar/baht exchange rate.

 

The dollar didn't have a significant increase in value in the USD index in the past week, but has strengthened by 1.55% against the baht in the same period.

 

I only can assume that international investors are watching the ongoing clown show, and are voting with their money

Sure: more salary, higher electric prices, sanctions against Myanmar, bad relations with China, that incoming government is scaring investors, more than the do nothing government from Prayut

[BenStark]

3 minutes ago, h90 said:

Sure: more salary, higher electric prices, sanctions against Myanmar, bad relations with China, that incoming government is scaring investors, more than the do nothing government from Prayut

Nope.

 

Pita was elected in May, and the devaluation of the baht started only in the last week, after this clown kept going on, even after the EC approved all MP's

 

Good try, but no cigar

[h90]

15 minutes ago, BenStark said:

Nope.

 

Pita was elected in May, and the devaluation of the baht started only in the last week, after this clown kept going on, even after the EC approved all MP's

 

Good try, but no cigar

after many people noticed his plans.....

But yes uncertainty is even worse...investors want to know what happens in future and is at the moment difficult...but I guess he'll be PM..needs only another 62 votes that can't be too expensive.....some from other parties and a few Senators.

Than he can make electric more expensive, add 50 to the minimum salary. Sanction Myanmar, China and Russia, ban Marijuana and watch the economic grow like never before...

[anchadian]

Talk about a long drawn-out affair:

 

EC source confirms Mon the commision has set up a committee to look into Move Forward PM candidate Pita's ITV shares & are collecting evidence. The source said #Pita will be summoned to clarify & the committee has 20 days to conclude whether Pita should be disqualified.

 

https://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1673188376135233543

 

[ikke1959]

I am sure something is to find of this guy that he can chopped down...where comes the money from, what assets, etc etc..

[d2b2]

Petty man with a small mind and a small...

[saintbangkok]

Been here a lot longer than most and can say this is nothing new as they are like children when it comes to elections. Boo hoo, my man lost, so I will now do all I can to oust the incumbent. Pathetic people. 

[Scott Tracy]

2 hours ago, huangnon said:

Need to also have a close look at the media outlets giving this clown the oxygen of publicity and legitimacy.

You mean like this one...?

[Harveyg]

Mr Shinawatra??

[newnative]

Your 15 minutes were up long ago.  

[stix40]

He should just sit in a cane chair under a veranda and mind his own business.

And chew that nut , that makes your teeth go red !

[Purdey]

It comes down to the same issues as in every country. If the plaintiff has evidence, he must present it to the court. The court will consider it and come to a decision based on facts presented. If the evidence is insufficient, Pita will be free. 

If Pita broke the law he will suffer the consequences. 

I see nothing wrong in principle with the plaintiff saying he has evidence and going to court to prove it. 

If everyone is certain ITV is not a media company there is no problem but it changed from dormant to a television media business in 2022 then in 2023 changed again to be an "advertising media and returns from investments" business (Time has an article on this). Let's not forget Pita's father died in 2006. How long does it take to transfer shares? InTouch would have accepted then. 

I want Pita to be PM but feel he and his boss are too cocky, when they should have got rid of everything that could cause questions. Even hired a lawyer to dig into all their assets. 

[prakhonchai nick]

45 minutes ago, stix40 said:

He should just sit in a cane chair under a veranda and mind his own business.

And chew that nut , that makes your teeth go red !

Better still, cross a busy road without looking!

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Ruangkrai, 61, earned the label “serial petitioner” after years of filing complaints

Maybe his mother didn't let him play as a child?

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, bendejo said:

Does this guy have loads of $$$, or is someone else paying for this and if so, who?

 

 

Family.... wife.