al Jazeera:
Thailand’s PM frontrunner Pita faces election commission probe
Commission will investigate whether Pita was unfit to register as a candidate due to his ownership of shares in a media firm.
The probe relates to Pita Limjaroenrat's ownership of shares in a now-defunct media company - prohibited under Thai election law [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]
Published On 12 Jun 202312 Jun 2023
Thailand’s prime ministerial frontrunner Pita Limjaroenrat will be investigated over whether he was qualified to run in last month’s election, a senior official has said, in another setback as he battles to win backing for his premiership.
Pita, the 42-year-old leader of the progressive Move Forward Party whose election victory stunned Thailand’s military-backed establishment, has faced multiple complaints from rivals, three of which the poll body has dismissed for late submission, while four others against the party have been thrown out.
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But Pita is by no means in the clear, with Thailand’s Election Commission looking into whether he was knowingly unfit to register as a parliamentary candidate because of his ownership of shares in a media firm, which is prohibited under election rules.
Pita says he inherited the shares in the ITV television station, which has not broadcast since 2007, from his father. He says the shares in the firm, ITV, have since been transferred.
The candidate denies any wrongdoing and the party says it is not worried about the allegations.
He faces disqualification, up to 10 years in jail and 20 years banned from politics if found in violation.
“There is sufficient information and evidence to warrant further investigation into whether Mr Pita is qualified to run in the election,” Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong told the AFP news agency.
“The Election Commission has set up an investigatory committee to investigate further.”
The opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties thumped conservative opponents allied with the military in a resounding rejection of nearly nine years of government led or backed by the army since its 2014 coup.
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kt comments:
Trust the royalist-military bloc to 'play dirty', coming up with kerbau that may yet see Pita disqualified, jailed up to 10 years and banned from politics for 20 years.
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