Prachai ordered to pay Leena Bt1.25m

The Southern Bangkok Civil Court Tuesday found Prachai guilty of one count of civil offence by going back on his promise to endorse Leena's candidacy.

As plaintiff, Leena contended that Prachai and co-defendant Rachot Pisitbannakarn had wooed her to adopt the party's banner with a promise to endorse her candidacy for Bangkok's Constituency 8.

At the party's campaign office in October 2007, Prachai and Rachot made a public statement introducing her to as the party's electoral candidate.

Leena said she had advanced millions of baht for campaigning preparations but the party failed to reimburse her expenses.

At the start of the candidacy registration on November 9, 2007, Prachai abruptly cancelled his promise without any justification.

In the initial damage demand, the plaintiff wanted Prachai to pay Bt1 billion to compensate for tainted reputation, expenses incurred and lost opportunity to contest the polls.

The civil court ruled in Leena's favour by citing the evidence that Prachai had already made a public announcement endorsing the candidacy before reneging.

In computing for damage, the court cited Prachai's promise for Bt1.25 million financial support per candidate as the basis to award the compensation.