PM files defemation suit seeking Bt800 million
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday filed criminal and civil lawsuits demanding Bt800 million in damages for defamation allegedly spreaded by the rival Democrat Party and three major newspapers.
Thaksin launched his litigation just hours after calling for political reconciliation based on His Majesty the King's speech calling for unity.In the criminal case, Thaksin named his rival party and its campaign spokesman Thepthai Senpong as key defendants. He also singled out three editors, Suwapong Janfangphet of Matichon, Thakoon Boonpan of Khao Sod and Pracha Hetrakul of Daily News, as accomplices for publishing allegedly libelous comments. In the plaintiff writ, Thepthai is accused of acting on his party's behalf to accuse Thaksin of clinging to power. Based on reports published in the three newspapers, Thepthai compared Thaksin to a wandering spirit trying to get back into a body, the writ said. It also says Thaksin was portrayed as a ghost called "Pop" feasting on intestines in an effort to tarnish his reputation by implying that he was plundering the country. In the civil case, Thaksin added three newspapers to the list of five defendants named in the criminal proceedings. This was seen as a legal tactic to hold the newspaper management responsible for sharing damage payments. The Criminal Court has scheduled a hearing for October 30 to decide whether the case merits judicial review. The civil litigation will hinge on the outcome of the criminal proceedings. The Nation
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